USDA Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels Supports Projects Across the Country

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week announced that it is now accepting applications from advanced biofuel producers for support through the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. Since 2009, more than 275 eligible producers in 44 states have received payments.

The USDA Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels was authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill to "support and expand production of advanced biofuels refined from sources other than corn kernel starch. . . Advanced biofuels are produced from renewable biomass crops such as cellulose, sugar and starch (other than ethanol derived from corn kernel starch), hemicelluloses, lignin, waste materials, biogas, butanol, diesel-equivalent fuel, sugarcane, and nonfood crops such as poplar trees or switchgrass."

In a June 12 USDA press release , the agency announced the availability of up to $98.6 million to support the production of advanced biofuels. Click here to read the full notice in the Federal Register and for application instructions.

Earlier this year, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the awarding of $14 million to 162 advanced biofuel producers in 38 states. So far the program has supported the production of more than three billion gallons of advanced biofuels and the equivalent of 36 billion kilowatt hours of electric power.

The reauthorization and mandatory funding for this program is now pending before Congress as part of the Farm Bill (see previous post).