U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USDA Seeks Applications for Funding to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Plant-Based Products

Name
Erin McDuff
City
Portland
Release Date

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for funding to support the development of advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products.

Funding is being provided through the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (formerly known as the Biorefinery Assistance Program). Congress established the program in 2008 to encourage the development of biofuels that use renewable feedstocks. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the program to include renewable chemicals and biobased product manufacturing. The program now provides loan guarantees of up to $250 million to help develop, construct, or retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries and to develop renewable chemicals and biobased product manufacturing facilities.

Eligible borrowers include individuals, corporations, federally-recognized tribes, state or local government entities, farm cooperatives and co-op organizations, associations of agricultural producers, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, rural electric cooperatives, and public power entities, or a consortium of any of these groups. Entities that receive financing through this program must provide at least 20 percent of the funding for eligible project costs.

Rural Development is seeking applications in two cycles. Applications for the first funding cycle are due October 3, 2016. Applications for the second cycle are due April 3, 2017. A letter of intent is due 30 calendar days prior to the application deadline. For more information, see page 48377 of the July 25, 2016, Federal Register.

Since the start of the Obama administration, USDA has provided $844 million in loan commitments through the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. Companies receiving these commitments are projected to produce 159 million gallons of advanced biofuels.