Department of Energy Programs
Loan Guarantee Program
DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program is intended to encourage early commercial use of new or significantly improved technologies for energy projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Categories of eligible projects include: renewable energy systems; advanced fossil energy technology; hydrogen fuel cell technology; advanced nuclear energy facilities; carbon capture and sequestration practices and technologies; efficient electrical generation, transmission, and distribution technologies; efficient end-use energy technologies; production facilities for fuel efficient vehicles, including hybrid and advanced diesel vehicles; pollution control equipment; and refineries, meaning facilities at which crude oil is refined into gasoline.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Volumetric Ethanol Tax Credit
The Volumetric Ethanol Tax Credit is a per-unit tax credit for ethanol sold or used as fuel to operate motor vehicles.
Ethanol Tariff
Intended to protect domestic ethanol producers and raise revenue, this is a 54-cent per gallon tariff on ethanol imports from most countries. Another important benefit of the tariff is to discourage increased ethanol production in countries with less sustainable production practices and less aggressive environmental legislation.
Federal Energy Management Program
FEMP provides a comprehensive mechanism for Federal agencies to improve their own energy efficiency and use of renewable resources by providing product research and recommendations, infrastructure choice and design consultation, and best practices counseling.
Integrated Biorefinery Demonstration Project Grants
This DOE grant program provides funding for the design and construction of pilot, demonstration, and commercial-scale biorefineries that demonstrate new or innovative technologies or processes.
Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)
BRDI is jointly administered by the DOE and USDA to accelerate and promote the development of renewable fuels. The two agencies coordinate actions and bring together industry participants to facilitate flow of knowledge, as well as to provide funding for qualifying projects.
Environmental Protection Agency Programs
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
The RFS mandates fixed volumes of renewable fuels (including ethanol, biodiesel, and other fuel produced from biomass feedstocks) be blended into the national fuel supply within a certain timeframes. The definition of renewable biomass has become a major issue since the RFS was expanded in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Department of Agriculture Programs
Woody Biomass Utilization Grants (Woody BUG)
The Woody BUG program offers at least $4 million annually for grants to specific projects that address the national challenge of utilizing low-value forest products. The grants are intended to improve forest restoration activities by creating and utilizing markets in low-value byproducts, thereby simultaneously improve forest management and aid in the development of forest-dependent communities and entrepreneurs.
Repowering Assistance
Federal Repowering Assistance provides financial support in the form of credits or grants for biorefineries that seek to make the switch from using fossil fuels for process energy to using renewable biomass.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
REAP is intended to foster rural economic development and growth by providing financial assistance for agricultural producers and small rural businesses to purchase renewable energy systems or improve energy efficiency.
Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)
BRDI is jointly administered by the DOE and USDA to accelerate and promote the development of renewable fuels and biomass technologies. The two agencies coordinate actions and bring together industry participants to facilitate flow of knowledge, as well as to provide funding for qualifying research and development projects..
Biomass Crop Assistance Program
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program is intended to help farmers in transitioning crops should they switch a portion of their cropland over to energy feedstocks. The program will provide financial assistance for the transition period for farmers who convert part or all of their crops to energy feedstocks in regions close to biorefineries. The program also provides matching funds for the harvest, collection, storage, and transportation of biomass feedstocks.
Forest Biomass for Energy
This program, administered by the U.S. Forest Service, will create a comprehensive research, development, and implementation program for studying the efficacy, efficiency, and sustainability of utilizing forest resources for renewable energy production, and improving methods therein, within the forest service.
Community Wood Energy Program
The Community Wood Energy Program provides funds to communities intending to install small-scale thermal or combined heat-and-power (CHP) energy systems in community buildings. Funds are also available for communities to develop a community wood energy plan that will help facilitate sustainable use of local resources.
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