USDA Farm Service Agency Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)
BCAP is a program designed to provide financial assistance to producers or entities that deliver eligible biomass material to designated biomass conversion facilities for use as heat, power, biobased products or biofuels. BCAP is a 2008 Farm Bill program and was reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
It was first funded in 2009/2010 and took the form of a transportation subsidy (of up to $45/BDT) for the Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation (CHST) costs associated with the delivery of eligible biomass materials. During this initial period there were 4,275 contracts nationally and almost $244m was spent by the program.
Under the 2014 Farm Bill, BCAP is assigned $25 million in mandatory funding for each fiscal year 2014 to 2018. Assistance from this program continues to provide a CHST of eligible biomass to an approved facility. The transportation subsidy provides a $1:$1 payout per ton delivered (up to $20/BDT) over two years.
As of 2014 there are only 36 qualified biomass conversion facilities nationwide, down from 453 in 2010. California has the highest number of facilities of any state with 13 facilities. For further information, visit the FSA BCAP homepage.
Visit FSA BCAP page for more information.
