USDA announces advanced biofuel payments, bioenergy grants

On Dec. 2, the USDA announced it is making more than $5.6 million grant payments to 220 producers under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. An additional $4 million in grants are being awarded though three programs supporting bioenergy initiatives under the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

"Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America's energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These resources represent the Obama Administration's commitment to support an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities.”

The NIFA funding includes $2.3 million awarded to South Dakota State University through the Sun Grant Program, which encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies and land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. According to the USDA, SDSU will lead a consortium of five regional grant centers and one subcenter that makes competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstock. The project period is for up to five years. The NIFA funding also includes a $1 million grant to Iowa State University of Science and Technology under the Critical Agricultural Materials program. The funds will support the development of new paint, coating and adhesive products derived from acrylated glycerol, a coproduct of biodiesel. NIFA awards were also made to the National Biodiesel Board and University of Ohio through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. The NBB received $768,000 while the University of Idaho was awarded $192,000.

The $5.6 million awarded under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program includes grants to producers of ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and pellets. The program was established under the 208 Farm Bill and provides payments to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other thank corn kernel starch. Since the program began, the USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers through more than 3,100 payments. The payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kWh of electricity. 

Pellet producers receiving payments under this round of funding include:

- LEE Energy Solutions LLC, $3660
- Westervelt Pellets I LLC, $9,821
- Fiber Energy Products LLC, $9,821
- Forest Energy Corp., $3,177
- Eden Pellets LLC< $1,423
- Appling County Pellets LLC, $22,475
- Lignetics of Idaho Inc., $11,111
- Rocky Canyon Pellet Co. LLC, $593
- Somerset Hardwood Flooring, $,3,141
- Enviva LP, $52,270
- Geneva Wood Fuels LLC, $3,561
- Maine Woods Pellet Co. LLC, $6,089
- Northeast Pellets LLC, $744
- Kirtland Products LLC, $761
- Michigan Wood Fuels LLC, $1,913
- New England Wood Pellet LLC, $13,638
- Biomaxx Inc., $3,063
- Curran Renewable Energy LLC, $5,546
- American Wood Fibers Inc., $4,828
- Bear Mountain Forest Products Inc., $5,994
- Blue Mountain Lumber Products LLC, $980
- Frank Pellet LLC, $1,009
- Pacific Pellet LLC, $1,068
- West Oregon Wood Products Inc., $3,125
- Energex American Inc., $3,534
- Hassel & Hughes, $1,129
- Unaka Forest Products Inc., $1,462
- Turman Hardwood Flooring Inc., $1,523
- VT Wood Pellet Co. LLC, $813
- Indeck Ladysmith Biofuel Center, $3,219
- Marth Peschtigo Pellet Co. LLC, $2,151
- Marth Wood Shaving Supply Inc., $1,177
- Hamer Pellet Fuel, $2,821

Biogas producers receiving payments under this round of funding include:

- High Mountain Fuels LLC, $5,690
- Gallo Cattle Co. LP, $628
- Agpower DCD LLC, $733
- Agpower Jerome LLC, $3,027
- DF-AP#1 LLC, $759
- New Energy One LLC, $1,169
- Bio Town Ag Inc., $1,856
- T and M Limited Partnership, $976
- Brook View Dairy LLC, $521
- Fremont Community Digester LLC, $895
- Cargill Inc., $130,195
- Riverview LLP, $2,084
- Quasar Energy Group LLC, $1,407
- Farm Power Rexville LLC, $504
- GDR Power LLC, $545
- Buckeye Ridge Renewable Power LLC, $899
- Clear Horizons LLC, $1,202
- Holsum Dairies LLC, $837
- Norswiss Digester LLC, $726
- Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy LLC, $629
- Stargest Power LLC, $773


A full list of payments made under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program is available on the USDA website.