- 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.
/h2>/h2>/h2>/h2>/h2>- Author: Gareth J Mayhead
The annual Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization grant program has been creating some confusion for people. Grants.gov has had information online for the program since November 2011 even though it has not yet officially been announced on the Federal Register. According to the program manager at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison we can treat the information on grants.gov and on the FPL website as a pre-announcement of this years program. The Federal Register announcement will be very soon.
The advertised mailing deadline is March 1 2012 so if you are planning to submit it is important you start the process soon.
UC Berkeley and the Forest Service are holding 3 information sessions next week:
Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Stanislaus National Forest, Register Here
Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Tahoe National Forest, Register Here
Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Register Here
Information on the Grant Program
The program remains very similar to last year when it changed significantly compared to previous years. Main points include:
• The program is focused on biomass to energy projects
• Equipment is not eligible for funding
• Grants will fund advanced engineering studies or similar
• $250,000 maximum grant per project
• Single step application process (mailing date March 1 2012)
Full information and application materials are on the FPL website.
Who should attend?
The grant program is of most relevance to organizations that are developing biomass to energy projects. The following entities may be interested in this workshop: power plants, project developers, National Forest System staff, other Federal agencies, forest-based businesses, contractors, rural communities, landowners, tribal entities, conservation groups, rural and urban economic development councils.
Topics:
• Background
• Application process
• Eligibility
• Obligations
• Timeline
• Assistance available to help with applications
• Questions
We will also include time to discuss other woody biomass utilization issues for those attendees that are interested.
Registration:
There is no cost for this workshop but advance online registration is appreciated.
Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Register Here
Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Register Here
Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Register Here
- Author: Gareth J Mayhead
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the successful projects that will receive almost $3m in funding from the 2011 Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program. This year the program objective was to fund advanced engineering studies for woody biomass to energy projects.
Nationally 17 projects were selected for funding, including 3 from California, from a total of 34 submitted. The successful projects are listed below and locations are shown on the map.
Applicant |
City |
State |
Grant Amount |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
Palmer, |
AK |
$ 80,000 |
Placer County |
Kings Beach, |
CA |
$ 50,000 |
Kiara Solar |
Anderson, |
CA |
$ 250,000 |
Trinity River Lumber |
Weaverville, |
CA |
$ 250,000 |
Community Power Corporation |
Littleton, |
CO |
$ 125,000 |
Idaho Forest Group |
Coeur d'Alene, |
ID |
$ 135,000 |
Yellowstone Power |
Emmet, |
ID |
$ 250,000 |
EcoPower Generation, LLC |
Lexington, |
KY |
$ 250,000 |
Stoltze Land & Lumber |
Columbia Falls, |
MT |
$ 190,720 |
Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc. |
Seeley Lake, |
MT |
$ 202,727 |
University of Montana |
Missoula, |
MT |
$ 250,000 |
Burrows Paper Corporation |
Little Falls, |
NY |
$ 250,000 |
New York Power Authority |
White Plains, |
NY |
$ 250,000 |
City of Vernonia |
Vernonia, |
OR |
$ 25,000 |
ColPac Quinault Indian Nation |
Montesano, |
WA |
$ 50,000 |
Thilmany LLC |
Kaukauna, |
WI |
$ 132,400 |
University of Wisconsin--Superior |
Superior, |
WI |
$ 250,000 |
View Woody Biomass Utilization Grant 2011 in a larger map
The table below shows the split of the grant money between the 9 Forest Service regions. California is Region 5 and came in the top 3 regions due to the great applications that were submitted. We would like to congratulate the successful California applicants (Trinity River Lumber, Placer County and Kiara Solar).
More information:
/small>- Author: Rebecca Snell
All Grant information workshops have been postponed as there is still no news on the status of the 2011 Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program http://bit.ly/bFJhW4.
- Author: Gareth J Mayhead
View Woody Biomass Utilization Grant 2010 in a larger map
You can see that all the grants were given to projects in the western US. This makes sense as the program is orientated at developing markets for the material from forest health and fuels reduction projects. The process was very competitive this year with over 185 applications. Congratulations to the successful California projects!
Check back for information on if there will be a grant program in 2011 and for future workshops. Our WBU Grant information page is here: http://ucanr.org/WBUG/small>