$33 Million in Funding for Biomass R&D

Wednesday, May 12 2010

The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) jointly announced up to $33 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value biobased products - subject to annual appropriations.

USDA and DOE are issuing this joint funding announcement for several types of projects aimed at increasing the availability of alternative renewable fuels and biobased products. The projects will aim to create a diverse group of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass.

The funding opportunity is available online at Grants.gov. Pre-applications are due July 13, 2010, and must be submitted electronically.

DOE has also released a video (below) that highlights a new way of producing ethanol from the cellulose fibers in corn cobs, rather than corn kernels. The technology generates a new opportunity for farmers to harvest and sell the cobs that they’d normally leave in the field. The video was shot at a harvesting equipment demonstration in Emmetsburg, IA.

(DOE)