USDA Announces Biomass/Biofuels Payment Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today has announced funds available for 2012 for two key programs encouraging the use of renewable biomass and advanced biofuels.

The Repowering Assistance Program provides funding to biorefineries that were working on or before June 18^th, 2008. The assistance from the USDA will help facilities install new biomass systems.

“The purpose of the program is to provide a financial incentive to biorefineries to use renewable biomass in place of fossil fuels used to produce heat or power,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The deadline to apply for this program is June 1^st, 2012.

Advanced biofuels producers may also be eligible for payments from the USDA as well. About $25 million has been made available for use in each program. Producers must have already registered to be eligible for payments in this program.

More information on these programs is available here.