- Author: Ricky Satomi
Wood-to-Energy Updates
On July 15, 2014, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $1.25 million in awards for nine wood energy projects nationwide through the 2014 Wood to Energy Grant Program (W2E). Two of the recipients are here in California and will receive total of $346,000. Projects funded under the 2014 W2E are:
- BVP Property, LLC for the Big Valley Lumber and Cogeneration Facility
- The Watershed Research and Training Center for a System Impact Study in the North Fork and Wilseyville CHP Projects. This System Impact Study will help with the interconnection development phase for two SB1122 projects.
Read the USFS W2E Announcement Here
BCAP Updates
Also in the news, 36 energy facilities in 14 states have been selected to as approved facilities for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The program provides payments to landowners producing forestry or agriculture used in energy production. Thirteen of these facilities are in California. Starting July 28, 2013, biomass supplied to these facilities may qualify for BCAP delivery assistance. NOTE: This leaves a short window to apply for funding assistance before the deadline on SEPTEMBER 26, 2014. ALSO NOTE: Forest biomass is only eligible for payments under the BCAP program if it is sourced from land owned by the US Government (USDA, BLM, DOD, etc.). For interested biomass producers, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), will begin accepting applications between JULY 28 and AUGUST 25 for match funding on biomass fuel before SEPTEMBER 26, 2014. |
See the list of approved facilities in California below:
/table>/h2>/h2>- Author: Rick Satomi
NEW INFOGUIDE: At this February's CA Biomass Working Group meeting, Dr. Peter Tittmann gave a presentation on due diligence in biomass conversion technology deployment.
This presentation looks at important considerations when determining which technology to utilize for your biomass conversion application. Some key points include establishing clear objectives for the project, identifying project unknowns, and accurately assessing technology capability. Another key point is the importance of understanding enough about all systems to compare them but to not get lost in the details and focus on your goals.
For more information, please feel free to contact the UCB Woody Biomass Group or the CA Biomass Working Group.
To see this and other interesting readings to help make your biomass facility a reality, CLICK HERE!
- Author: Rick Satomi
Key Dates:Application Due Date: Approximate Date for Announcement of Results: Award Date (completion of award package): |
The U.S. Forest Service has opened requests for proposals under the 2014 Wood-To-Energy Grant Program (a.k.a W2E, Woody Biomass Utilization Grant). See RFP Here.
Please note that this is a dual announcement and only the Wood-to-Energy portion is eligible to California as the state successfully obtained a grant for a statewide grant last year and cannot apply again.
This program will assist applicants with the engineering design work needed to apply for public or private loans assisting with the construction and long-term financing of wood energy facilities that rely in part on hazardous fuels removed from national forests.
The UC Berkeley Woody Biomass Group will also be scheduling a webinar in the coming weeks to help explain application guidelines and evaluation criteria. Announcement to follow. However, DO NOT WAIT for the webinar to begin your application and START on your application as soon as possible.
Key contacts for potential applicants are:
Dr. Peter Tittmann UC Woody Biomass Utilization Group pwt@berkeley.edu (510) 665-3518 |
Larry Swan USFS Region 5 Utilization/Biomass Coordinator lswan01@fs.fed.us (707) 562-8917 |
For more information, please visit the Wood Education and Resource Center and see the USDA announcement. Applications may be submitted through www.grants.gov. Application restrictions and deadlines are outlined in the Federal Register notice.
- Author: Rick Satomi
We've recently updated some of the most popular pages on the UC Woody Biomass Utilization Website, adding new features to improve access and dissemination of new information in a timely manner.
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Power Plant Information Page
The new Power Plant map may look the same, but it is now a live interpretation of the most current data we have available, bringing a whole new meaning to "you'll know as soon as we know". The data is also available in a variety of formats at the bottom of the page. Raw data can now be accessed:
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Past Workshop Information Page
The Past Workshop Information page has been updated to give a more consistent feel and facilitate navigation. You can now sort through all of our past workshops by name, location, or presentation date.
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New Mailing List
We have also added a new mailing list subscription option on the navigation sidebar. If you are not already on our list, Sign up Today to receive information about upcoming workshops, new research pertaining to biomass, and lots more.
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What do you think about the new look? Anything else you'd like to see? Please Contact us or comment on the blog if you have any comments.
/table>/h2>/h2>/table>/h2>/h2>/h2>/table>/h2>/h2>- Author: Peter Tittmann
The Request for Proposals for the 2013 WBUG program is in the Federal Register. It looks like the solicitation is similar to last years with a focus on later stage projects designed to convert wood biomass to energy products (heat, electricity, biogas, etc.). The deadline for proposals is April 8.
Update!
The USFS Forest Products Lab Technology Marketing Unit has put together a web resource on the 2103 solicitation which includes guidance, forms, and contact infomation. You can access it here.
WBUG program vitals
Match | 20% | |||
Total allocation | +/-$3M | |||
Max request per applicaiton | $250,000 | |||
Deadline | April 8, 2013 |
Critical application components
- A Comprehensive Feasibility Assessment of the project by qualified and credible parties,
- a Woody Biomass Resource Supply Assessment and,
- past three years of financial statements (balance sheets, income statements and cash flow analysis) shall be considered
From the Federal Register program announcement
Goals of the grant program are to:
- Promote projects that target and help remove economic and market barriers to using woody biomass for renewable energy.
- Assist projects that produce renewable energy from woody biomass while protecting the public interest.
- Reduce the public's cost for forest restoration 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 encourage business investment that uses woody biomass from our nation's forestlands for renewable energy projects.
Grant webinar California
The USFS and the University of California, Berkeley Center for Forestry will be hosting a webinar focused on providing information and preparing for this solicitation on February 28th. Stay tuned to this blog, our twitter feed (@UCBWoodProducts) and the UC Biomass Utilization website for more information.
Sign up for the webinar here.
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