The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for funding to support the development on a commercial scale of biofuels that use renewable feedstocks.
The Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program provides loan guarantees to help develop, construct, or retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries and to develop renewable chemicals and biobased product manufacturing facilities.
Overall, funding provided through this program is intended to diversify markets for agricultural and forestry products and agricultural waste material; create jobs and enhance the rural economy; increase the energy independence of the United States; and promote resource conservation, public health, and the environment.
Individuals, corporations, federally-recognized tribes, state or local government entities, farm cooperatives, associations of agricultural producers, cooperative organizations, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, rural electric cooperatives, and public power entities, or a consortium of any of these groups, are eligible to apply. Entities that receive financing through this program must provide at least 20 percent of the funding for eligible project costs.
Rural Development is seeking applications in two cycles. Applications must be received no later than 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time by the following dates:
- October 1, 2018
- April 1, 2019
A letter of intent is due 30 calendar days prior to the application deadline.
Applications received after the first deadline will be considered for the subsequent application cycle, provided that funding is still available.
For more information, see page 38119 of the August 3, 2018, Federal Register. To discuss a potential project prior to submitting an application, contact John Holman, Energy Coordinator, (503) 414-3369.