The U.S. Forest Service announced the award of nearly $4 million in grants for wood energy projects around the country to help expand regional economies and create new jobs. The grants, totaling $3.92 million, will be distributed to 20 small businesses, tribes, and community groups to develop renewable energy projects that require engineering services.
“Woody biomass is a valuable part of America’s clean energy future as we work to decrease our dependence on foreign oil,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Projects like these will help grow local economies, create new jobs, and improve
and protect our forests. We will need architects and engineers to design these plants, skilled laborers to build them, and well-trained technicians to operate them.”
The projects will use woody material such as beetle-killed trees removed from forests to aid in wildfire prevention. The material will then be processed in bioenergy facilities to produce green energy for heating and electricity. The awardees will use funds from the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program to secure the engineering services necessary for final design, permitting, and cost analysis.
“These grants continue our legacy of improving access to affordable energy for rural schools, community centers, universities, and small businesses.”
The grant program, administered by FPL’s Forest Products Marketing Unit, helps applicants complete the necessary design work needed to secure public or private investment for construction. Examples of projects include the engineering design of a woody biomass boiler for steam at a sawmill, a nonpressurized hot water system for a hospital or school, and a biomass power generation facility.
The Forest Service selected 20 small businesses and community groups as grant recipients for these awards in 2012. The recipients were chosen from 34 applications. According to the requirements, all 20 recipients provided at least 20 percent of the total project cost. Non-federal matching funds total nearly $8 million.
2012 Woody Biomass Utilization Grantees:
California Department of Forestry
Sacramento, California — $124,875
City of Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont — $248,556
City of Nulato
Nulato, Alaska — $40,420
Clearwater Soil and Water Conservation District
Orofino, Idaho — $110,000
Coquille Economic Development Corporation
North Bend, Oregon — $145,000
County of Sullivan New Hampshire
Newport, New Hampshire — $250,000
Evergreen Clean Energy
Gypsum, Colorado — $250,000
F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company
Columbia Falls, Montana — $250,000
Greenway Renewable Power LLC
LaGrange, Georgia — $250,000
Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia — $250,000
Mineral Community Hospital
Superior Montana — $190,000
Nippon Paper Industries USA Co. Ltd
Port Angeles, Washington — $250,000
Oregon Military Department
Salem, Oregon — $250,000
Plumas Rural Services
Quincy, California — $70,125
Port Angeles Hardwood LLC
Port Angeles, Washington — $250,000
Quinault Indian Nation
Taholah, Washington — $205,000
Riley County Schools
Riley, Kansas — $90,000
Sanpete Valley Clean Energy LLC
Salem, Utah — $250,000
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, Oregon — $250,000
Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council
North Fork, California — $134,225