US: USDA announces funding for rural biofuel production
Published: 03/15/2010, 9:23:40 AM
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday announced that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy, reports Sugaronline.
The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The Farm Bill).
Applications for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003), which uses loan guarantees to develop, construct, and retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries, must be received by June 1, 2010.
Applications are also being accepted for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Repowering Assistance Program (Section 9004), which provides for payments to biorefineries (that were in existence when the Farm Bill was passed) to replace the use of fossil fuels in their operations with renewable energy from biomass. Biorefineries interested in obtaining funding must apply by June 15, 2010.
Those producers eligible under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Section 9005) may also apply to receive payment from remaining FY 2009 funds. Applications must be received by May 30, 2010. During the first round, the Department awarded funding to 123 recipients in 34 states to accelerate the production and usage of advanced biofuels.
"The Obama Administration is working aggressively to give our nation's rural communities, farmers, ranchers and producers of biofuels the financial tools they need to help bring greater energy independence to America," Vilsack said. "This funding will help the nation's advanced biofuel industry produce energy from sustainable rural resources, and in doing so create jobs and stimulate rural economies across the nation."