The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) have grant funds to support research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. The projects funded through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) funds projects that integrate science and engineering research in the following three technical areas that are critical to the broader success of alternative biofuels production:

• Feedstock Development
Funding will support research, development and demonstration activities for improving biomass feedstocks and their supply, including the harvest, transport, preprocessing, and storage necessary to produce biofuels and biobased products.
• Biofuels and Biobased Products Development
Research, development and demonstration activities will support cost-effective technologies to increase the use of cellulosic biomass in the production of biofuels and/or biobased products. Funding will also support the development of a wide range of technologies to produce various biobased products, including animal feeds and chemicals that can potentially increase the economic viability of large-scale fuel production in a biorefinery.
• Biofuels Development Analysis
Projects will develop analytic tools that improve the sustainability, environmental quality, cost effectiveness, security, and rural economic development of renewable biomass technologies. Funding will also be used to develop new tools to better evaluate the impact of expanded biofuel production on the environment and to assess the potential of using federal land resources to sustainably increase feedstock production for biofuels and biobased products.

Pre-applications are due on May 31, 2011 and must be submitted electronically. It is anticipated that applicants who are encouraged to submit full applications will be notified by August 3, 2011.

For more information visit DOE's website or USDA's.

USDA-Forest Service has opened the 2011 Woody Biomass Utilization Grant.  Projects will use woody biomass material for bioenergy creation.  This program promotes projects that target and help remove economic and market barriers to using woody biomass fro renewable energy.  Assist projects that produce renewable energy from woody biomass.  Reduce forest management costs by increasing the value of biomass and other forest products generated from hazardous fuels reduction and forest health activitiess on forested land.  Create incentives and/or reduce business risk to increase use of woody biomass from our nation's forest lands for renewable energy projects. 

Eligible applicants include local government municipalities, non-for-profits, schools and small businesses. 

Some examples of projects include: woody biomass boiler for steam at a sawmill.  Mom-pressurized hot water system for various applications at a school, biomass power generator.

Applications are due March 1, 2011 and more information can be found here. 

I have 3 programs to share with you today that all deal with renewable energy. So to get things started off….

Biomass Research and Development Initiative

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) are offering funding through a grant for Biomass Research and Development. Funding can be used on: Technologies and processes necessary for abundant commercial production of biofuels at prices competitive with fossil fuels; High-value biobased products; and a diversity of economically and environmentally sustainable domestic sources of renewable biomass for conversion to biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products. Eligible applicants include: non-profits, academia and the private sector. Pre-applications are due June 7, 2010 and more information can be found at http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=MHtLLqTZjDqDKXvvh1z5GyT1dFy6dcS4PNG0JLRRy9bTP2TnN10P!-2132130105?oppId=54455&mode=VIEW

USDA-Repowering Assistance Program

Eligible biorefineries in existence before June 18th, 2008 can partake in this program which encourages the use of renewable biomass as a replacement fuel source for fossil fuels used to provide process heat or power in the operation of this biorefineries. Payments will be made based on the amount of fossil fuel a renewable biomass system is replacing; the cost effectiveness and economic benefit to the area. For applications please contact your USDA-Rural Development State Office.

USDA-Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels payments to Advanced Biofuel Producers

This program provides payments to to eligible advanced Biofuel producers in rural areas for the production of fuel derived from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch to include: biofuels derived from cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, sugar, starch, waste material, diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass included vegetable oil and animal fat, biogas, and butanol. For applications please contact your state USDA-Rural Development office.

Do you have an energy efficient idea for your farm or small business that could reduce energy use and result in financial savings for your operation? Maybe a project such as a grain dryer, or retrofitting lighting or insulation, maybe just adding solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro power and hydrogen-based sources, or replacing equipment with more efficiency units. Or perhaps looking into diesel irrigation motors, upgrading poultry houses, new HVAC systems or more efficient windows for rural small businesses. All these projects and probably several more that you could think up would meet the criteria to apply for this grant. The only other requirements are that the project must be located in a rural area, owned by a farmer, rancher or a small business, produce energy in the form of heart, electricity or fuel, and is technically feasible. If your energy efficient or renewable energy project meets these guidelines, then what are you waiting for? You are eligible to apply for a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant through USDA.

The REAP Grant was set up through Section 9007 of the 2008 Farm Bill and offers a grant, loan or grant/loan combination depending on the size of the project or the operations financial situation.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and are for up to 25% of total eligible project costs. Grants range from $2,500-$500,000 for renewable energy systems and between $1,500-$250,000 for energy efficiency improvements. Applications are being accepted by USDA on a continual basis. This past year Hoosier Farmers received over $3.8 million in REAP funds for 47 projects. For more additional information please check out USDA’s REAP website for the full program guidance. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html

Please note, grant funds cannot be used for the following items: Purchase land, Provide working capital, Research and Development, Residential improvements, Vehicles or Waste collections.

One item I would like to point out is that while this grant is a great opportunity for farmers to take advantage of, the application for this grant is long and time consuming. Many farmers hire a grant writer to assist them with their proposals. So if you are interested in these funds, start now and make sure to do your homework and research in order to bring those grant dollars into your energy efficient farming operation.