- Author: Ricky Satomi
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Join the UC Biomass Utilization Group for an informational webinar on the 2015 Wood Innovations Program. This program seeks proposals to expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs in National Forest System and other forest lands.
Speakers
- Julie Tucker is the National Lead for Renewable Wood Energy and is based at the US Forest Service's Washington D.C. office.
- Larry Swan is the Woody Biomass and Utilization Specialist for USFS State and Private Forestry at the Region 5 office in Vallejo.
Larry and Julie will be giving short presentations followed by a Q & A session for applicants.
Wood Innovations Grant Program
The Wood Innovations Grant Program has been previously known as the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program and the Wood-to-Energy Grant Program. The scope of the program has expanded this year to include wood products as well as energy along with the range of projects in last years Wood-to-Energy Grant Program.
The Forest Service plans to award approximately $5 million under this announcement. The maximum for each award is generally $250,000; however, the Forest Service may consider awarding more than $250,000 to a proposal that shows far reaching or significant impact. Additional information on application requirements, eligibility, and prerequisites for consideration are available at www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/ and www.grants.gov.
Proposal submission deadline is: Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.
Meeting Information:
To join the meeting from the web:
1) Go to: https://bluejeans.com/346088704?ll=en&g=ojuwg23tmf2g63ljibrgk4tlmvwgk6jomvshk===
To connect by phone:
1) Direct-dial with my iPhone or
+1 408 740 7256 +1 408 740 7256
+1 888 240 2560 +1 888 240 2560 (US Toll Free)
+1 408 317 9253 +1 408 317 9253 (Alternate Number)
2) Enter Meeting ID: 346088704
To connect directly from a room system:
1) Dial: 199.48.152.152 or bjn.vc
2) Enter Meeting ID: 346088704 -or- use the pairing code
- Author: Ricky Satomi
The Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity is the newest incarnation of the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant and Wood-to-Energy Programs. The Forest Service plans to award approximately $5 million under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $250,000 with potential for more if the proposal demonstrates far reaching or significant impacts. A minimum 35% match from non-Federal sources is required to qualify for this proposal.
Important Dates:
Pre-application Webinar: | November 5, 2014, 1:00 pm EST (Link Here) |
Region 5 Webinar: |
Early December, TBA (register for email notification) |
Application Deadline: | Friday January 23, 2015, 11:59 pm |
The Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is focused on, but not restricted to two main project categories:
- Expansion of wood energy markets that depend on forest residues or byproducts. These project types include State Wood Energy Teams, Wood Energy Projects, and Wood Energy Markets.
- Expansion of wood products markets for commercial building and innovative wood product.
Full details of examples of each category and sub-category are given in the Federal Register. They do not represent an exhaustive list and serve to provide a sense of the types of projects being considered.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are for-profit entities; State, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities; not-for-profit organizations; or special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports).
Additional application information can be found at the WERC and at Grants.gov. Technical questions regarding Federal Register language and intent should be directed to your Regional Biomass Coordinator.
Larry Swan, Forest Service, lswan01@fs.fed.us, (707) 562-8917 is the Forest Service Region 5 (CA, HI, Guam, and Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) coordinator.
Click Here for the 2015 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity Register Announcement.
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- 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:
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