Despite "significant" budget uncertainty, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the USDA remains focused on its mission and signaled the availability of $181 million to develop commercial-scale biorefineries or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels.
The Biorefinery Assistance Program, which was created through the 2008 Farm Bill and is administered by USDA Rural Development, provides loan guarantees to viable commercial-scale facilities to develop new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels. Eligible entities include Indian tribes, state or local governments, corporations, farmer co-ops, agricultural producer associations, higher education institutions, rural electric co-ops, public power entities or consortiums of any of the above.
"This financing will expand the number of commercial biorefineries in operation in the U.S. that are producing advanced biofuels from non-food sources," Vilsack said in the press release. To read more, click HERE.
