Energy and Biomass Stimulus in 2008 Farm Bill
While most of the alternative energy stimulus discussion has been focused on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, there are very similar benefits in Title IX of the Farm Bill (Sections 9004-9012). Michigan farmers and other interested suppliers need to pay attention to this unique opportunity to advance the alternative effort. There are many promising provisions, for example:
- Repower Assistance Program – payments to encourage biorefineries;
- Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels – payments to support advanced biofuels, meaning renewable biomass other than corn-kernel starch;
- Rural Energy for America Program – promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy development for agricultural producers and rural small business with grants and loan guarantees [applications are due July 31];
- Biomass Research and Development Initiative – competitive grants, contracts and financial assistance for research on biofuels and biobased products;
- Biomass Crop Assistance – support to establish and produce crops for conversion to bioenergy; and
- Forest Biomass for Energy – funds to the Forest Service for research and development on forest biomass for energy
See http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/id/EnergyFactSheet.pdf for additional summary information.
