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August 2005
Feature
Article
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Successful Biorefinery Workshop Held in Washington, D.C.
On July 20-21, more than 300 participants from over 20 countries participated in the 1st International Biorefinery Workshop organized jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biomass Program and the European Commission's Directorate General Research. The workshop provided an international technical review of biorefinery R&D and attracted participants from diverse fields such as biorefinery developers, the agriculture, forestry, fuel, chemical, and automotive industries, as well as academia, laboratories, research institutes, environmental organizations, financial institutions, and federal, state and municipal governments.
The overall objectives of the workshop were to provide a forum for a technical review of the state-of-the-art research leading to the development of biorefinery technologies; evaluate biorefinery markets and opportunities; foster domestic and international partnerships for the development and deployment of biorefineries; and disseminate information on successful research and demonstrations occurring in the U.S. and internationally. The workshop achieved many of these objectives.
In opening the workshop, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman stated the importance of biorefineries in:
- Producing a multiplicity of products and byproducts,
- Boosting rural economies,
- Reducing dependence on fossil fuels,
- Creating valuable products from local, renewable biomass resources,
- Creating new jobs and businesses,
- Lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and
- Reducing unnecessary waste.
Secretary Bodman highlighted the April 2005 U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture report, "A Billion-Ton Feedstock Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry", which helps to dismiss skeptics who question the ability of biomass to supply enough energy to meaningfully displace petroleum. This study found that biomass production potential in the U.S. exceeds 1.3 billion dry tons per year, which is enough to meet over one-third of the current demand for transportation fuels. In addition, he stressed the fact that biomass is the only source of carbon-based transportation fuel that is renewable and nearly carbon neutral. Therefore, biomass fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are the only immediate solutions to help reduce our reliance on petroleum and may be a cost-effective route to renewable hydrogen production.
The Workshop included ten technical sessions with over 70 speakers and moderators, each focusing on the different aspects of a biorefinery and the technical and non-technical pathways to implement a biorefinery. Presenters from diverse organizations, such as BP, JP Morgan, General Motors/ Saab, DaimlerChrysler, Abengoa Bioenergy, Archer Daniels Midland, Volkswagen, UOP, Natural Resources Defense Council, Novamont SPA, Genencor International, DuPont, and others. The following were the ten different sessions:
- Strategy for Future Transport Systems
- Opportunities of Biorefineries
- Existing Biorefineries
- Thermochemical Technical R&D Overview
- Production and Feedstocks Technical R&D Overview
- Sugars Platform Technical R&D Overview
- Biorefinery Deployment
- The Analysis Underlying Biorefineries (Products)
- The Analysis Underlying Biorefineries (Systems)
- Establishing Biomass R&D Priorities
For presentations and further details please visit www.biorefineryworkshop.com
The speakers presented different perspectives of the biorefinery industry. Oil companies presented their outlook for biofuels as an energy resource and the direction those companies are headed in the production of biofuels. Abengoa Bioenergy presented on the various processes of biorefineries. Presenters from the automotive industry described their industry's perspective on biofuels and the direction they are headed towards producing alternative fuel vehicles and outlined the concerns with biofuels for automobiles. Academic representatives from Utrecht University and VTT Process presented the various opportunities of biorefineries in the future. National laboratories like Argonne National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory updated everyone on the current progress and hurdles on biorefinery-related research, as well as presented analysis on the net energy benefits of ethanol, dispelling current misconceptions regarding ethanol. Investment and financial advisors like RW Beck and JP Morgan presented the hard facts on the risks involved with biorefineries and the current market confidence in the biorefinery industry. Apart from these, there were many crucial speakers who examined the biorefinery industry from various angles for a clearer perspective so that future decisions could be made more knowledgably.
The workshop also analyzed current progress, barriers, and policies related to the development of a biorefinery in both the U.S. and Europe. Many similarities were found in terms of goals and technical barriers. However, strategies to achieve goals differ in some ways.
Following each of the sessions, participants were asked to describe major observations. These fall into three categories.
- Observations on U.S. and European Union R&D Focus and Future Direction:
Although process steps (e.g., pretreatment, enzymatic processes, etc.) are improving independently, better integration is necessary in the future. Sugars R&D priorities are similar between the U.S. and the European Union, there is a need for better integration between sugar and thermochemical pathways and increased technology transfer by scientific exchanges. The U.S. needs to learn from the European Union's process of making long-term multi-year R&D commitments. Better coordination is needed with respect to fuels standards and gasification/clean-up processes and with regard to feasibility analysis. There may be opportunities for the U.S. and the European Union to jointly invest in capabilities that can accelerate biorefinery technology.
- U.S. and E.U. Opportunities for Coordination:
There needs to be more coordination between the U.S. wet and dry mills and the European Union chemical industries. Integration between the U.S. biorefineries, which primarily focus on the production of ethanol, and the European Union biorefineries, which focus on syngas fuels and biodiesel needs to be improved. Further integration in the production of products and power is needed. Future workshops should focus on specific research platforms and policy areas. More coordinated round robin testing of various stages in sugar production in lignocellulosic biorefineries and improvements of interaction on systems analysis is needed, specifically analysis in planning and budget and differences in perception of analysis between industry and government.
- Deployment Paths to Commercial Markets:
There is a need to have a balance between R&D focus and deployment focus to create a sustainable industry. When attempting to bring new technologies to the market, identifying investment-grades engineers and possible sources of financing are difficult but critical early on. Developers need to focus the development of products or intermediates on what the customer wants, targeting niche markets. There needs to be long-term networking for demonstrating whole chain systems including social, economic, and environmental aspects and public acceptance. Furthermore there needs to be long-term incentives for thermochemical production and investments in technologies.
Overall the workshop was a success. Many participants believe that agriculture in the 21st century will become the oil wells of the future, providing fuels, chemicals and products in a global community.
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State Spotlight: Utah
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In 2001, the state of Utah consumed 833.1 trillion Btu of energy. Coal supplied nearly half of the state's energy, at 47 percent. Petroleum and natural gas follow, accounting for 31 and 20 percent respectively. Utah did not use any nuclear power in 2001. Hydroelectric and biomass sources accounted for about one percent each.1
It is estimated that Utah could generate 1.1 billion kWh of electricity from biomass sources. That amount of electricity could power 105,000 average homes, or 19 percent of all residential needs in Utah. The sources of available biomass are varied, and at this time there are no available estimates on the amount of energy crops (fast growing trees, shrubs, and grasses) in the state. From the available data, urban and agricultural residues account for the most potential energy at 231,000 and 217,000 dry tons per year respectively. Annually, forest residues have the ability to contribute 173,000 dry tons, and 102,000 dry tons are available from mill residues.2
There are currently several biomass projects underway through the Utah Energy Office. At Utah State University, a recent grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will be used to research and demonstrate an anaerobic digestor system at a large dairy farm.3 Two projects will be using landfill gases to convert into usable energy. The first project is a methane gas to energy located at the Salt Lake City landfill, with chief partner Detroit Edison, the second project is at the Hill Air Force Base building a new power plant using methane gas from the Davis County landfill to save 600,000 dollars per year on energy costs.4 Current biomass operations in Utah include the Davis County S.W.M. and Energy Recovery, which converts municipal solid wastes to energy, and the Garkane Power Association which uses milling and logging residues to produce energy. These two biomass installations have a combined output of 5,600 kW.5
There are substantial incentives in place to encourage future biomass and other renewable projects in Utah. The state of Utah offers tax breaks for biomass and other renewable systems, such as a sales tax exemption on the purchase of industrial systems with outputs of 20 kW or greater and tax credits (25 percent for residential systems, and 10 percent for commercial installations). The private company Mainstay Energy also offers to buy renewable energy credits (REC) from owners of renewable energy systems.6
1 Energy Information Administration. Table 7: Energy Consumption Estimates by Source, 1960-2001, Utah. Available: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/sep_use/total/use_tot_ut.html
2 Utah Bioenergy Resources. Available: http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy/tech_biomass.cfm?state=UT
3 Utah Biomass Projects. Available: http://www.energy.utah.gov/bioproj.htm
4 Utah Biomass Projects. Available: http://www.energy.utah.gov/bioproj.htm
5 Current Renewable Energy Projects in Utah. Available: http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy/opfacbytech.cfm?state=UT
6 DSIRE Utah Incentives for Renewable Energy. Available: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map.cfm?State=ut&CurrentPageId=1
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On the Hill
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| Bill # |
Sponsor |
Description |
Last Action |
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S.606
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Sen. John Thune[SD]
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Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2005 - Promoting the potential of renewable fuels as a replacement MTBE - resulting in a reduction of MTBE in the fuel supply. (Amends the Clean Air Act)
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5/26/2005: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 116.
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H.R.6
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Rep. Joe Barton [TX-6]
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Energy Policy Act of 2005: To ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy. Focusing the Secretary of Energy to conduct programs addressing: energy efficiency, renewable energies and hydrogen.
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8/6/2005: Signed by PresidentRecord Vote Number: 213.
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H.R.1608
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Rep. Stephanie Herseth [SD]
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To amend the Clean Air Act to increase production and use of renewable fuel and to increase the energy independence of the United States, and for other purposes.
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4/22/2005: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
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H.R.2828
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Rep. Lee Terry [NE-2]
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To ensure that the United States leads the world in developing and manufacturing next generation energy technologies, to grow the economy of the United States, to create new highly trained, highly skilled American jobs, to eliminate American overdependence on foreign oil, and to address the threat of global warming.
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7/11/2005: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
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S.1093
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Sen Ken Salazar [CO]
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A bill to reauthorize and revise the Renewable Energy Production Incentive program, and for other purposes.
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5/20/2005: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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H.R.1744
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Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger [MD-2]
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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
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4/20/2005: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
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H.R.3081
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Rep. Gil Gutknecht [MN-1]
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To amend the Clean Air Act to increase the production and use of renewable fuel in the United States and to increase the energy independence of the United States, and for other purposes.
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7/1/2005: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
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H.R.3274
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Rep. Jim Saxton [NJ-3]
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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the deduction for qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property and to amend the Clean Air Act to make ethanol fuels more available to motorists.
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4/20/2005: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker.
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S.1609
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Sen. Maria Cantwell [WA]
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A bill to increase the production and use of biofuels and diversify biofuel feedstock as key elements to achieving energy independence for the United States.
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7/29/2005: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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Grassroots
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Genencor International Makes R&D Magazine's Top 100 List Again
R&D Magazine has selected Genencor International to be on its list of the Top 100 Technologically Significant Products for 2005 for the development of its new STARGEN™ enzyme that reduces the number of steps and the cost of producing ethanol. According to Michael V. Arbige, Genencor's Senior Vice President of Technology, "This new, low energy technology offers the ethanol industry significant added value with fewer processing steps that requires less energy, materials and capital." Genencor's STARGEN™ enzymes is made from blends of an alpha amylase and a glucoamylase that converts granular or uncooked starch to fermentable sugars on a continuous basis. It has the potential to improve productivity, reduce energy consumption, produce higher ethanol yields and save on capital expenses by reducing overall unit operations, compared to current methods. Last year, Genencor was part of a team that was also listed for its work on technology for converting biomass to ethanol.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050713/sfw035.html?.v=16
Canada set to Increase Capacity to Produce Renewable Fuels
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell announced that the second round of funding under the Government of Canada's Ethanol Expansion Program (EEP) has allocated a further $46 million. This is in addition to $72 million that was previously allocated to six different projects under the first round of the Ethanol Expansion Program, for the construction or expansion of five ethanol plants across Canada. The new companies being allocated contributions are Commercial Alcohols Inc., Husky Oil Marketing Company, Integrated Grain Processors Co-Operative Inc., Permolex Ltd., and Power Stream Energy Services Inc. Minister Andy Mitchell said, "The interest in this program is a sign of the ethanol industry's growth and potential in Canada," and that "This is good news for the agricultural community, as it creates a new market for Canadian farmers." Minister Mitchell also noted that projects supported under both rounds of the Ethanol Expansion Program expect to be producing a total of about 1.2 billion liters of fuel ethanol per year by the end of 2007. This would bring Canadian production to approximately 1.4 billion liters per year, seven times what it was prior to the launch of the program, and enough to meet the Government of Canada's climate change target for ethanol production two years ahead of schedule.
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=34437
Energy Bill Signed by President
On August 8, 2005 President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Creation of a 7.5 billion gallon renewable fuels standard (RFS) is one of several important provisions for biofuels. According to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President Bob Dinneen. "Enacting this RFS will send a strong signal to the world that the U.S. is serious about addressing our overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels." He adds, "In fact, implementing this RFS will make the U.S. the leading producer and consumer of renewable fuels in the world. The road to U.S. energy independence is a long one, but this RFS is a good first step."
Some of the important provisions enacted include:
- Ensure renewable fuel use growth by establishing an RFS that starts at 4 billion gallons in 2006 and increases to 7.5 billion gallons in 2012
- Provide refiners flexibility by creating RFS credits that would have a lifespan of 12 months
- Protect consumers with waiver language that also does not undermine the marketplace certainty an RFS provides.
On the matter of gasoline additive MTBE, the bill does not ban it but it also does not receive liability protection from defective product lawsuits.
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/pr050729.html
UN Agency Launches Global Biofuels Initiative
The United Nation's Conference on Trade Development (UNCTAD) has launched the Biofuels Initiative in a meeting in Paris. It will coordinate different activities, which will be carried out jointly with other UN agencies, private sector, non-governmental organizations and applied research centers. The meeting stressed that biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas), derived from agricultural crops such as sugar beet and sunflower, are an ecological alternative to conventional fossil fuels, that are expected to last no more than 50 years for petroleum, 60 years for natural gas and 200 years for coal. UNCTAD's Initiative is aimed mainly at the poorest developing countries where excessive dependence on fossil fuels has had serious consequences on the economic and social environment, biodiversity and climate. The initiative will help to build capacity in the production, use and trade of biofuels and raise public and private sector awareness of the challenges and opportunities of increased biofuel use. It will also promote ways of generating new investments such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=34005
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Marketplace
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The Grain Prices graph shows the cost of the main
biodiesel feedstock, soybeans, and the main ethanol feedstock, corn.
The tables show actual grain prices, indicators which
may affect gasoline prices, and the
production of ethanol and MTBE. |
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| Grain
Prices
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July 2004 |
July 2005 |
% Change |
| Corn |
2.51 |
2.15
|
-14% |
| Soybean |
8.46 |
6.84 |
-19% |
|
| Fuel
Supply |
July 2004 |
July 2005 |
% Change |
| Percent Refinery Utilization |
95.9 |
95.2 |
-0.73% |
| Products - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) |
8796.0 |
8821.8 |
0.29% |
| Stocks - Finished Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) |
137.5 |
138.6 |
0.78% |
| Imports - Total Motor Gasoline (Million Barrels) |
1087.0 |
957.5 |
-11.91% |
|
| Oxygenate
Production |
May 2004 |
May 2005 |
% Change |
Ethanol Production
(Million Barrels) |
221 |
237 |
6.75% |
MTBE Production
(Million Barrels) |
142 |
141 |
-0.71% |
|
|
Data Sources:
U.S. DOE-Energy Information
Administration, "Weekly Petroleum Status Report", "Monthly Oxygenate
Report"
USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service, "Agricultural Prices,"
"Grain Stocks"
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Events
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August 14-17, 2005
Long Beach, California
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Energy 2005
Tel: (800) 608-7141
http://www.energy2005.ee.doe.gov
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August 16-18, 2005
Omaha, Nebraska
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ACE Ethanol Conference & Trade Show
Organizer: American Coalition for Ethanol
Email: sgustafson@ethanol.org
Tel: 402-341-1500
Website: http://www.ethanol.org/
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August 29-30, 2005
Ames, Iowa
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2005 Biobased Industry Outlook ConferenceGrowing the Bioeconomy
Website: http://www.valuechains.org/bewg/Conf2005/
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September 12-15, 2005
Jyvaskyla Finland
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Bioenergy 2005 in Wood Industry: International Conference and Exhibition
Organizer: FINBIO
Contact: Ms. Mia Savolainen
E-mail: bioenergy2005@jsp.fi
Tel: +358-14-4451 117
Website: http://www.jklmessut.fi/puu2005/eng_press2.php
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September 13-15, 2005
Warsaw, Poland
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Eastern Biofuels Conference & Expo
Contact: Wendy Vincent
The Stratton Group, Inc.
Phone: +01.605.338.6829
E-mail: wendyv@thestrattongroup.com
Website: http://www.easternbiofuels.com/
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September 26-28, 2005
San Diego, California
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ISAF XV: The 15th International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels
Tel: 951-827-2525
E-mail: reginah@ucr.edu
Website: http://www.eri.ucr.edu/
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October 6-9, 2005
Lons le Saunier, France
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BOIS ENERGIE, World's First Wood Energy Exhibition
Organizer: ITEBE
Contact: Céline Nehmé
Tel: +33 (0) 384 47 81 00
Fax: 03 84 47 81 19
Email: celinenehme@boisenergie.com
Website: http://bees.sas.free.fr
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October 17-21, 2005
Washington, DC
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Renewable Energy in America: Phase II 2005
Website: http://www.acore.org/
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October 17-21, 2005
Paris, France
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14th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition: Biomass for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection
Contact: Angela Grassi
E-mail: angela.grassi@etaflorence.it
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October 25-27, 2005
Trondheim, Norway
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Bioenergy 2005, Nordic Bioenergy Conference
Contact:Norwegian Bioenergy Association
Tel. +47 23 36 58 70
Fax. +47 22 60 41 89
Email: post@nobio.no
Website: www.bioenergy2005.no
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October 25-26, 2005
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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CatCon2005 Conference and Exhibition
Organizer: The Catalyst Group Resources
Contact: Jeanne Drahos
Tel: 215-628-4447
Email: jmd@catalystgrp.com
Website: http://www.catalystgrp.com/conferences.html
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November 2-4, 2005
Messe Frankfurt, Germany
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Eurolipids:
International Trade Fair for Fats & Oil
Organizer: Messe Frankfurt Ausstellungen GmbH
Contact: Mrs. Caroline Curik
Email: eurolipids@mfa.messefrankfurt.com
Tel: +49 (0)611-951 66-28
Website: http://www.mfa.de
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December 6, 2005
Philippines
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Asia Biofuels
Conference & Expo
Contact: Wendy Vincent
The Stratton Group, Inc.
Phone: +01.605.338.6829
Email: wendyv@thestrattongroup.com
Website: http://www.asiabiofuels.com/
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May 29 - June 2, 2006
Jönköping, Sweden
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2nd World Pellets Conference, Dense Biomass Fuels
Organizer: SVEBIO
Contact: Johan Vinterback
Tel.: +46 (0) 8 441 70 83
Fax: +46 (0) 8 441 70 89
Email: johan.vinterback@svebio.se
Website: http://www.svebio.se
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May 30 - June 1, 2006
Jönköping, Sweden
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World Bioenergy 2006
Tel.: +46 (0) 8 441 70 83
Fax: +46 (0) 8 441 70 89
Email: info@svebio.se
Website: http://www.svebio.se
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|
| Click here
for additional bio-related events. |
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Solicitations
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| Title: |
Continuing
Solicitation for the Office of Science
|
| Description:
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Seeking grant applications for support of basic energy science fundamental research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy technologies. |
| Government
Agency: |
Department of Energy's Office of Science |
| Schedule: |
Applications
may be submitted at any time. |
| URL: |
http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/FAPN05-01.html
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|
| Title: |
SARE |
| Description: |
The program sponsors grants in research/education, professional development for agricultural educators and producer projects in sustainable agriculture |
| Government
Agency: |
USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) |
| Schedule: |
Grant programs, funding amounts and funding cycles vary by region. |
| URL: |
http://www.sare.org/htdocs/sare/cfp.html |
|
| Title: |
TIFIA |
| Description: |
Provides credit assistance in the form of secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private sponsors of eligible surface transportation projects. Highway, passenger rail, transit, and intermodal projects (including intelligent transportation systems) may receive credit assistance |
| Government
Agency: |
U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Joint Program Office |
| Schedule: |
Letters of interest are required and are accepted at any time. |
| URL: |
http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov |
|
| Title: |
Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program |
| Description: |
The EISG provides funding to small businesses, small non-profits, individuals and academic institutions for establishing the feasibility of new energy concepts. Qualifying entities outside of California are eligible. Projects must develop innovative and original energy concepts that address a clear market need, provide benefit for California electricity ratepayers and target one or more areas of interest: Industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; strategic energy research. |
| Government
Agency: |
California Energy Commission |
| Schedule: |
EISG has up to 4 cycles of grants a year |
| URL: |
http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/innovations/index.html |
|
| Title: |
Energy Performance Contracting in State-Owned Facilities |
| Description: |
Funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on electric transmission, this program offers energy efficiency, research and development, low-income and environmental disclosure funding and education to assist electric consumers as the regulated electricity market moves to more open competition. |
| Government
Agency: |
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority |
| Schedule: |
Grant programs, funding amounts, and funding cycles vary |
| URL: |
http://www.nyserda.org/Funding/funding.asp?i=2 |
|
| Title: |
USDA SBIR |
| Description: |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The purpose of the USDA SBIR program is to provide an opportunity for U.S. owned, for profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, R&D projects that address important problems facing American agriculture, and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, Animal Waste Management, Rural and Community Development, Aquaculture, and Wildlife. Up to $19.4 million expected to be available, award range $80K to $300K. |
| Government
Agency: |
USDA |
| Schedule: |
Responses for Phase I due September 1, 2004, responses for Phase 2 due February 2, 2006. |
| URL: |
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1220 |
|
| Title: |
Clean Energy Loans |
| Description: |
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is establishing a program for making grants, loan guarantees, and direct loans to farmers
and ranchers (agricultural producers) or rural small businesses to
purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency
improvements. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002
Act) established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency
Improvements Program under Title IX, Section 9006. This program will
help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to reduce energy
costs and consumption.
|
| Government Agency: |
USDA |
| Schedule: |
The loan guarantee funds will be set aside until August 31, 2005, after which they'll be reallocated to the USDA's grant program. |
| URL: |
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/farmbill/section9006rule.html |
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R&D Awards
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No R&D Awards were
granted for this month.
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| The Biomass Initiative, formed as part of the Biomass
R&D Act of 2000, is a multi-agency effort to coordinate and
accelerate all Federal biobased products, biofuels, and bioenergy
research and development. The Biomass Initiative distributes an online
monthly newsletter to inform government institutions and the public,
including private companies, about the Biomass Initiative and
biomass-related activities. The newsletter’s contents include a feature
article highlighting important biomass-related stories of the month, as
well as grassroots information and a state spotlight recognizing
important local activities. In addition, the newsletter includes
biomass-related information on recent legislation, R&D awards,
solicitations, and market trends.
If you have any
questions or comments about the Biomass Initiative Newsletter, please
contact mmanella@bcs-hq.com. |
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