[MPWG] Fwd: UPDATED LINK - USDA Announces Funding Availability for Turning Biomass Material into Energy

[De Angelis, Patricia]

Sending this to the med plant people because Dr. Duke has often suggested
that the biomass left after extracting medicinal constituents from
medicinal plants could be turned to biofuel! I wonder if this might apply?
-Patricia

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USDA Office of Communications <usda at public.govdelivery.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 4:54 PM
Subject: UPDATED LINK - USDA Announces Funding Availability for Turning
Biomass Material into Energy

USDA Press Release No. 0115.14Contact:Office of Communications (202)720-4623
 USDA Announces Funding Availability for Turning Biomass Material into
Energy *Farm Bill Implementation Continues as Energy Facilities Can Now
Apply for Renewed Biomass Crop Assistance Program*

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin
accepting applications June 16 from energy facilities interested in
receiving forest or agricultural residues to generate clean energy. The
support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was
authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish
and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest
or agricultural residues to a qualifying energy facility. Of the total $25
million per year authorized for BCAP, the 2014 Farm Bill provides up to 50
percent ($12.5 million) each year for matching payments for the harvest and
transportation of biomass residues. BCAP matching payments will resume this
summer, while crop incentives will begin in 2015. Some matching payments
will support the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests
and Bureau of Land Management public lands. This will be turned into
renewable energy while reducing the risk of forest fire. Agriculture
residues, such as corn cobs and stalks, also may qualify as
energy-producing feedstock.

"Removing dead or diseased trees from forests to use for biomass production
creates clean energy while reducing the threat of forest fires and the
spread of harmful insects and disease," said Vilsack. "Increasing our
country's production of biomass energy also helps grow our economy. Food is
made in rural America, but fuel is made in rural America, too. This program
is yet another USDA investment in expanding markets for agricultural
products made in rural places across the country."

With the 2014 Farm Bill requiring several regulatory updates to BCAP, the
resumption of payments for starting and maintaining new sources of biomass
(Project Areas) has been deferred until a later date when the regulatory
updates occur.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will begin
accepting applications from biomass conversion facilities beginning June
16, 2014, through July 14, 2014. Information on funding availability can be
found in the Federal Register notice at
http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2014-13617_PI.pdf
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjA5LjMyOTI2NDkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwOS4zMjkyNjQ5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTYzNjc1JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2014-13617_PI.pdf>.
For more details on applications and deadlines on BCAP, visit a local FSA
county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjA5LjMyOTI2NDkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwOS4zMjkyNjQ5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTYzNjc1JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&http://www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap>
.

BCAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on
historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while
achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for
taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement
each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster
relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools;
expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing
innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets
for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and
community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For
more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTQwNjA5LjMyOTI2NDkxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE0MDYwOS4zMjkyNjQ5MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTYzNjc1JmVtYWlsaWQ9UGF0cmljaWFfRGVBbmdlbGlzQGZ3cy5nb3YmdXNlcmlkPVBhdHJpY2lhX0RlQW5nZWxpc0Bmd3MuZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&http://www.usda.gov/farmbill>
.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800)
877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20140610/1c217975/attachment.html>