USDA Rural Development Accepting Applications for Energy Projects

The AgSTAR Program is pleased to provide information about grant funding and loan guarantees available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2008 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. This solicitation is issued pursuant to Section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Agricultural producers can apply for grants, loan guarantees, or both. Eligible renewable energy systems include anaerobic digester projects that use animal wastes and other substrates to produce thermal or electrical energy. For 2008, USDA is allocating $15.9 million to fund grants (with a ceiling of $500,000 per grant) and hopes to award $205 million in loan guarantees.

First Application Deadline: April 16, 2008

Second Application Deadline: June 16, 2008

The USDA has established two grant cycles this year. 50% of the grant funding will be set aside for each cycle. Applications not funded in the first cycle will be reconsidered in the second cycle. Notification on the first grant cycle is expected before June 16, 2008 and the second by September 16, 2008.

Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where your project is located. A list of the USDA Rural Development State Offices and Energy Coordinators addresses and telephone numbers are provided in the March 6, 2008, Federal Register Notice at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4305.pdf . More information on the funding and application process for this funding opportunity can be found  in the March 6, 2007, Federal Register notice and at http://www.farmenergy.org

 

West Coast Collaborative Diesel Emissions Reduction Program RFP Now Available

EPA Regions 9 and 10 – through the West Coast Collaborative – have announced the availability of approximately $5.1 million to deploy EPA or CARB verified or certified technologies to significantly reduce diesel emissions in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the U.S. Pacific island territories, including tribal lands belonging to federally-recognized tribes in those areas.  

The closing date and time for submission of proposals is Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.  EPA Regions 9 and 10 anticipate awarding six to nine assistance agreements from this announcement, with awards ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000.  

The full Request for Proposals (RFP) and additional information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/region10/cleandiesel.html.  The announcement is also available on Grants.gov at: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=41152&mode=VIEW.  Questions about the RFP should be directed to Lucita Valiere, EPA Region 10, at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The West Coast Collaborative has prepared a fact sheet with additional information on the funding program: http://www.westcoastcollaborative.org/files/news/wcc_dera_fy08.pdf  (PDF, 191K)

Funding Approval for Energy Initiatives at FPPC

The Board of Directors at Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. has approved additional funding to support a renewable energy initiative by authorizing three (3) additional pilot projects. The intent is to convert the waste steam into a revenue stream by producing an energy product.

 FPPC will fund $1.8 M for nutrient management systems that will convert the animal waste into one of the three (3) forms of energy described.  Technology providers, equipment suppliers, industry researchers, regulators and farm owners/growers interested in combining their waste treatment approach into renewable energy solutions sets should review the following application requirements and evaluation criteria. To be considered interested parties must  prequalify by May 2nd by filling out the required application.

 If you have further interest please contact FPPC at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or view the application requirements at the website www.fppcinc.org.   You may email the completed application to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   in a word document or PDF file.