To address the goals of Public Law 110-234, Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Rural Revitalization Technologies (7 U.S.C. 6601), and the anticipated Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 2011, $3.7 million is available for grants that address the nationwide challenge in dealing with low-valued material to create renewable energy.
Submission of an application is required for a grant up to $250,000 for wood energy projects that require engineering services. These projects will use woody biomass material removed from forest restoration activities, such as wildfire hazardous fuel treatments, insect and disease mitigation, forest management due to catastrophic weather events, and/or thinning overstocked stands.
The woody biomass shall be used in a bioenergy facility that uses commercially proven technologies to produce thermal, electrical or liquid/gaseous bioenergy. The funds from the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program (WBU) must be used to further the planning of such facilities by funding the engineering services necessary for final design and cost analysis.
Examples of such projects include engineering design of a:
• woody biomass boiler for steam at a sawmill
• non-pressurized system to heat water for various applications at a hospital, and
• biomass power facility, or similar facilities.
This program is aimed at helping applicants complete the necessary design work needed to secure public and/or private investment for construction.
Goals of the 2011 Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program are the following:
• Reduce forest management costs by increasing the value of biomass and other forest products generated from hazardous fuels reduction and forest health activities on forested lands.
• Create incentives and/or reduce business risk to increase use of woody biomass from our nation's forestlands for renewable energy projects.
• Implement projects that target and help remove economic and market barriers to using woody biomass for renewable energy.
• Produce renewable energy from woody biomass
Note: The federal government's obligation under this program is contingent upon the availability of 2011 appropriated funds. No legal liability on the part of the government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the grant officer for this program.
Application Deadline: Postmarked by close of business March 1, 2011.
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