Big-Ag Gets BioFuel $$$ = Small Farmers "0" Gain

USDA funds available for biofuel, bioenergy production
Posted March 15, 2010, at 8:15 a.m. CST

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced March 12 that Fiscal Year 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

• Applications for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003), which uses loan guarantees to develop, construct, and retrofit commercial-scale biorefineries, must be received by June 1, 2010.

• Applications are also being accepted for remaining FY 2009 funding under the Repowering Assistance Program (Section 9004), which provides for payments to biorefineries (that were in existence when the Farm Bill was passed) to replace the use of fossil fuels in their operations with renewable energy from biomass. Biorefineries interested in obtaining funding must apply by June 15, 2010.

• Those producers eligible under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Section 9005) may also apply to receive payment from remaining FY 2009 funds. Applications must be received by May 30, 2010. During the first round, the Department awarded funding to 123 recipients in 34 states to


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accelerate the production and usage of advanced biofuels.

"The Obama Administration is working aggressively to give our nation's rural communities, farmers, ranchers and producers of biofuels the financial tools they need to help bring greater energy independence to America," Vilsack said. "This funding will help the nation's advanced biofuel industry produce energy from sustainable rural resources, and in doing so create jobs and stimulate rural economies across the nation."

Under Section 9005, the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, payments are made to eligible producers in rural areas to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose, crop residue, animal, food and yard waste material, biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas), vegetable oil and animal fat. Information on how to apply for payments can be found in the March 12, Federal Register. Information on how to apply for funding under Sections 9003 and 9004 is also available in the March 12 Federal Register or by going to http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html#Rural%20Business-Cooperative%20Service. Funding for these programs is not provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The producer payments are intended to help eligible producers to support and ensure an expanded production of advanced biofuels necessary steps toward meeting the nation's energy needs. The following is a list of biofuels producers that have already received funding under USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. Recipients of payments less than $500 are not listed.

Alabama
• Athens Biodiesel, LLC, $2,262.11
Arizona
• Pinal Energy, LLC, $1,337,529.99
Arkansas
• FutureFuels Chemical Company, $544,785.84
• Pinnacle Biofuels, Inc., $20,085.18
California
• Energy Alternative Solutions, Inc., $4,269.21
• Imperial Valley Biodiesel, LLC, $1,999.57
• Imperial Western Products, Inc. $55,105.91
• Yokayo Biofuels, Inc., $8,308.57
Florida
• Agri-Source Fuels, LLC, $7,103.50
• Biofuel Consultants of North America, $2,004.77
Georgia
• Alterra Bioenergy of Middle Georgia LLC, $530.98
• Down To Earth Energy LLC, $1,062.62
• Nittany Biodiesel, $196,949.91
• The Edge Group, Inc., $8,167.17
• U.S. Biofuels Inc., $106,208.25
• American Proteins, Inc., $32,935.57
Hawaii
• Pacific Biodiesel, Inc., $8,655.92
Idaho
• Coeur D'alene Fiber Fuels, Inc., $203,769.40
Illinois
• Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC, $258,309.90
• Nova Biosource Fuels, Inc., $239,740.09
• Valley Energy, Inc., $4,717.00
Indiana
• E Biofuels LLC, $165,980.73
• Indiana Flex Fuels, LLC, $5,164.00
• Kingsbury Energy Group, $17,861.00
• T and M Limited Partnership, $30,702.24
Iowa
• Central Iowa Energy, LLC, $114,239.69
• Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC, $216,592.82
• Maple River Energy, LLC, $9,742.32
• Renewable Energy Group, Inc., $727,132.93
• Riksch Biofuels LLC, $10,401.22
• Sioux Biochemical, Inc., $13,961.87
• Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC, $253,695.87
• Western Iowa Energy, $298,475.92
Kansas
• Arkalon Ethanol, LLC, $663,270.50
• Bonanza Bioenergy, LLC, $266,261.11
• East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC, $34,500.65
• Emergent Green Energy, Inc., $1,700.79
• ESE Alcohol, $17,688.56
• Healy Biodiesel, Inc., $5,281.14
• Kansas Ethanol, LLC, $690,080.67
• Nesika Energy, LLC, $104,104.40
• Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, LLC, $ 824,692.23
• Reeve Agri Energy Inc., $150,398.26
• Trenton Agri Products LLC, $130,867.50
• Western Plains Energy LLC, $848,999.36
Kentucky
• Griffin Industries, Inc., $17,278.36
Maine
• Corinth Wood Pellets, LLC, $176,855.44
• Maine Woods Pellet Company, LLC, $231,291.84
Michigan
• Hillside Farms, LLC, $793.50
• Michigan Biodiesel, LLC, $1, 372.22
• Scenic View Dairy, LLC, $10,219.43
Minnesota
• Cargill Inc., $269,307.51
• Chippewa Valley Ethanol Coop LLP, $8,560.08
• Corn Plus LP, $182,421.73
• Fumpa Biofuels, $25,793.57
• MN Soybean Processo, $565,695.38
• Riverview LLP, $3,993.54
• West River Dairy, LLP, $4,874.74
Mississippi
• Greenlight Biofuels, $18,732.10
• Scott Petroleum Corporation, $106,190.64
Missouri
• Global Fuels LLC, $13,748.25
• Mid-America Biofuels, LLC, $538,101.79
• Natural Biodiesel Plant LLC, $26,909.55
• Prairie Pride, Inc., $133,712.70
• Show Me Energy Cooperative, $35,813.38
Montana
• Earl Fisher Bio Fuels LLP, $586.66
• Huls Dairy, Inc., $1,041.68
Nebraska
• AG Processing Inc., $120,115.61
• Chief Ethanol Fuel Inc., $1,345,588.16
• Northeast Nebraska Biodiesel, LLC, $9,264.65
Nevada
• Bently Biofuels Company, $2,144.76
New York
• MST Production, LTD, $82,410.75
• TMT Biofuels LLC, $1,728.06
North Carolina
• North American Bio-Energies, $4,149.60
• Piedmont Biofuels Industrial, LLC, $7,710.29
• Triangle Biofuels Industries, Inc., $9,148.67
North Dakota
• Archer Daniels Midland Company, $385,062.16
Ohio
• American AG Fuels, LLC, $923.99
• Arlington Energy, LLC, $1,699.77
• Bridgewater Dairy, LLC, $2,028.39
Oklahoma
• Ecogy Biofuels LLC, $85,057.55
• High Plains Bioenergy, LLC, $329,457.85
Oregon
• Green Fuels of Oregon, $643.33
• Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc., $735.50
Pennsylvania
• Middletown Biofuels LLC, $17,510.92
• Soy Energy, Inc. dba Custom Fuels, Inc., $3,382.39
Tennessee
• SunSoil, LLC, $2,811.54
Texas
• Beacon Energy (Texas) Corporation, $69,453.37
• Double Diamond Energy, Inc., $8,711.97
• New Energy Fuels, LLC, $5,424.50
• Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol, LLC, $432,305.71
• Texas Green Manufacturing LLC, $558.14
Vermont
• Audet's Cow Power, LLC, $757.59
• Berkshire Cow Power, LLC, $2,107.69
• David and Cathy Montagne, $586.29
• Green Mountain Dairy LLC, $918.17
Virginia
• Chesapeake Custom Chemical Corporation, $12,438.66
• Red Birch Energy, $6,583.85
• Virginia Biodiesel Refinery LLC, $23,341.53
Washington
• Farm Power Rexville LLC, $1,115.41
• FPE Renewables, LLC, $6,987.32
• GDR Power LLC, $16,162.98
• Imperium Grays Harbor LLC, $195,671.27
• Inland Empire Oilseeds LLC, $8,012.82
• Qualco Energy, $1,558.79
• Standard Biodiesel USA Inc., $3,219.96
• Whole Energy Fuels Corporation, $10,661.75
Wisconsin
• Badger Biodiesel, Inc., $193,237.25
• Best Biodiesel Cashton, LLC, $6,149.62
• Bio Blend Fuels, $1,976.11
• Buckeye Ridge Renewable Power LLC, $10,518.57
• Clover Hill Dairy, LLC, $1,371.50
• Green Valley Dairy LLC, $5,733.51
• Grotegut Dairy Farm, Inc., $1,066.92
• Holsum Dairies, LLC, $6,891.98
• Norm E Lane, Inc., $2,264.82
• Norswiss Digester, LLC, $11,535.15
• Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy, LLC, $2,045.72
• Quantum Dairy, LLC, $1,718.79
• Stargest Power, LLC, $11,636.27
• Statz Brothers, Inc., $1,464.80
• Walsh Bio Fuels, LLC, $6,656.94
• Sun Power Biodiesel, LLC, $9,050.39

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages more than 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $130 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

SOURCE: USDA











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