Funding-USDA -
Vilsack Announces Farm Bill Funding for Bioenergy Research, Converting
to Biomass Fuel Systems; August 31, 2014
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2014 – Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced up to $14.5 million in funding for two USDA
bioenergy programs made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA’s Rural
Development (RD) announced it is accepting applications from companies seeking
to offset the costs associated with converting fossil fuel systems to renewable
biomass fuel systems, while USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA) announced the availability of $2.5 million in grants to enhance national
energy security through the development of bio-based transportation fuels, biopower, and new bio-based products.
USDA today also announced a valuable
aid to those in, or interested in, starting a bio-energy business, the Bioeconomy Tool Shed.
The Tool Shed is a portal offering users access to a complement of
web-based tools and information, statistical data and other resources related
to the sustainable production and
conversion of biomass into products and fuel, a process often referred to as the
bioeconomy.
“These USDA investments are part of
the Obama Administration’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy, and they benefit
our economy as well as the environment,” Vilsack said. “USDA’s support for bio-based technologies is
good for the climate, and enhances rural economic development while it decreases
our dependence on foreign sources of oil.” He concluded, “These and other USDA efforts
will create new products out of homegrown agriculture from this and future generations
of American farmers and foresters.”
USDA plans to make up to $12
million in payments for eligible biorefineries through
RD’s Repowering Assistance Program,
which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Biorefineries in
existence on or before June 18, 2008 are eligible for payments to replace
fossil fuels used to produce heat or power with renewable biomass. Since President Obama took office, USDA has
provided $6.9 million to help biorefineries
transition from fossil fuels to renewable biomass systems. Applications, deadlines and details will be
published in the Federal Register on
Monday, June 16, 2014.
USDA is also seeking applications
for NIFA’s Sun
Grants program
that encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government
agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. Congress authorized the Sun Grant program in
the 2008 Farm Bill and reauthorized the program in 2014. The program provides
grants to five grant centers and one subcenter, which
then will make competitive grants to projects that contribute to research,
education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of
possible biobased feedstocks.
The project period will not exceed five years.
The newest addition to the USDA Energy Web, the
Tool Shed can help those interested in bio-energy business ventures by
providing access to the data and information necessary to evaluate potential
opportunities across the entire supply chain: from feedstock production, to
bioenergy production, bioenergy use, and linkages between feedstock production,
bioenergy production and use. The tool
is designed to assist in evaluating the feasibility and opportunities for
locating a new biorefinery. It provides the
stakeholder access to information on demographics, land use, biomass,
feedstock, economics, and financial management.
Today's announcements
were made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic
economic gains in rural America over the past five years while achieving
meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since
enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of
this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and
ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural
credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private
conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and
investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve
quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.
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