Pellet producers, AD projects receive millions from USDA

By Anna Austin | October 31, 2011

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced $44.6 million in funding to 156 producers of biomass-to-energy products, including pellets, power from anaerobic digestion, biodiesel and ethanol.

The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels program, under which payments are made to eligible producers to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose, crop residue, animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat.

Out of the funding recipients, 27 are pellet producers and 34 are anaerobic digester/landfill gas projects. One particular recipient is Kinsale, Va.-based Potomac Supply Corp., which received a $36,530 payment for producing fuel pellets and dry kiln from clean pine chips, sawdust and shavings feedstock. The payment will help save 10 jobs.

Below is a list of pellet/biogas award recipients by state:

Alaska

  • Superior Pellet Fuels LLC: $2,204.33 for pellets.

California

  • Castelanelli Bros.: $2,975.20 for anaerobic digester.
  • Fiscalini Properties LP: $5,307.15 for anaerobic digester.
  • Gallo Cattle Company LP: $8,916.62 for anaerobic digester.
  • High Mountain Fuels LLC: $56,868.34 for landfill gas.

Georgia

  • Appling County Pellets LLC: $170,092.52 for pellets.

Idaho

  • Df-Ap#1 LLC: $15,225.32 for anaerobic digester.
  • Lignetics of Idaho Inc.: $109,386.99 for pellets.
  • QB Corp.: $494.26 for pellets
  • Rocky Canyon Pellet Co. LLC: $6,861.29 for pellets.

Indiana

  • T and M Limited Partnership: $60,231.63 for anaerobic digester.

Kentucky

  • Somerset Hardwood Flooring: $49,449.09 for pellets.
  • Southern Kentucky Pellet Mill Inc.: $6,572.64 for pellets.

Maine

  • Corinth Wood Pellets LLC: $13,347.07 for pellets.
  • Geneva Wood Fuels LLC: $32,986.95 for pellets.
  • Maine Woods Pellet Co. LLC: $61,051.43 for pellets.
  • Northeast Pellets LLC: $427.69 for pellets.

Michigan

  • Green Meadow Farms Inc. : $5,394.65 for anaerobic digester.
  • Scenic View Dairy LLC: $15,215.73 for anaerobic digester.

Minnesota

  • Cargill Inc. : $1,267,659.93 for anaerobic digester/biodiesel.
  • District 45 Dairy LLP: $16,236.38 for anaerobic digester.
  • Riverview LLP: $16,417.84 for anaerobic digester.
  • West River Dairy LLP: $15,873.13 for anaerobic digester.

Mississippi

  • Enviva LLP: $50,357.67 for pellets.

Nebraska

  • Horizon Biofuels Inc. : $634.82 for pellets.

New Hampshire

  • New England Wood Pellet LLC: $74,360.53 for pellets.

New Mexico

  • Mt. Taylor Machine LLC: $4,105.00 for pellets.

New York

  • Aurora Ridge Dairy LLC: $6,319.10 for anaerobic digester.

Oregon

  • Bear Mountain Forest Products Inc. : $105,974.94 for pellets.
  • Blue Mountain Lumber Products LLC: $20,889.91 for pellets.
  • Frank Pellet LLC: $25,139.30 for pellets.
  • Ochoco Lumber Co.: $3,516.01 for pellets.
  • Pacific Pellet LLC: $11,341.05 for pellets.
  • Stahlbush Island Farms Inc.: $9,395.01 for anaerobic digester.
  • West Oregon Wood Products Inc.: $78,682.54 for pellets.

Tennessee

  • Hassell & Hughes: $17,781.06 for pellets.
  • Unaka Forest Products Inc.: $21,004.14 for pellets.

Texas

  • Element Markets LLC: $27,825.97 for anaerobic digester.

Virginia

  • Potomac Supply Corp.: $36,530.70 for pellets.

Vermont

  • Audet's Cow Power LLC: $1,836.34 for anaerobic digester.
  • VT Wood Pellet Co. LLC: $13,377.04 for pellets.
  • Westminster Energy Group LLC: $1,876.21 for anaerobic digester.

Washington

  • Farm Power Lynden LLC: $2,925.19 for anaerobic digester.
  • Farm Power Rexville LLC: $7,235.88 for anaerobic digester.
  • FPE Renewables LLC: $5,279.76 for anaerobic digester.
  • GDR Power LLC: $9,684.33 for anaerobic digester.
  • Qualco Energy: $5,052.53 for anaerobic digester.

Wisconsin

  • Bach Digester LLC: $3,777.25 for anaerobic digester.
  • Buckeye Ridge Renewable Power LLC: $31,398.27 for anaerobic digester.
  • Clover Hill Dairy LLC: $2,678.58 for anaerobic digester.
  • Green Valley Dairy LLC: $8,207.62 for anaerobic digester.
  • Grotegut Dairy Farm Inc.: $6,300.82 for anaerobic digester.
  • Holsum Dairies LLC: $10,615.98 for anaerobic digester.
  • Marth Peshtigo Pellet Co. LLC: $36,651.40 for pellets.
  • Marth Wood Shaving Supply Inc.: $11,130.51 for pellets.
  • Norm E Lane Inc.: $5,690.92 for anaerobic digester.
  • Norswiss Digester LLC: $31,456.98 for anaerobic digester.
  • Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy LLC: $8,438.39 for anaerobic digester.
  • Quantum Dairy LLC: $3,931.32 for anaerobic digester.
  • Stargest Power LLC: $30,340.71 for anaerobic digester.
  • Statz Brothers Inc.: $7,363.24 for anaerobic digester.