Posts Tagged: Forest Service

Woody Biomass Utilization Grant 2012 - Workshops Announced

The annual Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization grant program has been creating some confusion for people. Grants.gov has had information online for the program since November 2011 even though it has not yet officially been announced on the Federal Register. According to the program manager at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison we can treat the information on grants.gov and on the FPL website as a pre-announcement of this years program. The Federal Register announcement will be very soon.

The advertised mailing deadline is March 1 2012 so if you are planning to submit it is important you start the process soon. 

UC Berkeley and the Forest Service are holding 3 information sessions next week:

Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Stanislaus National Forest, Register Here

Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Tahoe National Forest, Register Here

Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Register Here

Information on the Grant Program
The program remains very similar to last year when it changed significantly compared to previous years.  Main points include:
•    The program is focused on biomass to energy projects
•    Equipment is not eligible for funding
•    Grants will fund advanced engineering studies or similar
•    $250,000 maximum grant per project
•    Single step application process (mailing date March 1 2012)
Full information and application materials are on the FPL website.

Who should attend?
The grant program is of most relevance to organizations that are developing biomass to energy projects.  The following entities may be interested in this workshop: power plants, project developers, National Forest System staff, other Federal agencies, forest-based businesses, contractors, rural communities, landowners, tribal entities, conservation groups, rural and urban economic development councils.

Topics:
•    Background
•    Application process
•    Eligibility
•    Obligations
•    Timeline
•    Assistance available to help with applications
•    Questions
We will also include time to discuss other woody biomass utilization issues for those attendees that are interested.

Registration:
There is no cost for this workshop but advance online registration is appreciated.

Monday (February 6) – Sonora, 3pm-5pm, Register Here

Tuesday (February 7) – Nevada City, 1pm-3pm, Register Here

Thursday (February 9) – Redding, 1pm-3pm, Register Here

2011 WBUG Grant Update

All Grant information workshops have been postponed as there is still no news on the status of the 2011 Forest Service Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program http://bit.ly/bFJhW4.

Woody Biomass Utilization Grants - Update

We have been receiving a lot of questions regarding the status of the 2010 Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program.  Currently the Forest Products Lab in Madison has received pre-applications and has distributed them to the review team.

The review takes place due the week commencing January 25 2010.  Therefore you will not hear if your pre-application has been successful until sometime in February.  Please be patient and remember that the time line for the program is in the application materials.

Approximately 200 applications were submitted nationally with around 25 from California.  Therefore competition will be tough.

Woody Biomass Grants - $5m available

Thanks to the 160+ people that came to our series of grant information workshops across the state.  The feedback was very positive and it is likely that we will repeat the workshops in the future to help raise awareness of funding opportunities for those looking to process or add value to woody biomass.

The Forest Service budget for the 2010 Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grants will be $5m based on the 2010 Interior Appropriations Bill.  This is less than the amount anticipated so therefore the competition for the grants will be stronger.  Potential applicants should consider how they will compare to others and whether to apply for less than the maximum $350,000 whihc will give the agency better value for money.

Grant Information Workshops

Workshops providing information on the 2010 Forest Service Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant are planned as follows:

Eureka: October 19, 5.30-7.30pm, Forest Supervisor's Office, Six Rivers National Forest.

Redding: October 20, 4.00-6.00pm, Forest Supervisor's Office, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

San Bernardino: October 26, 6.00-8.00pm, Forest Supervisor's Office, San Bernardino National Forest.

The workshops are free but we appreciate it if you can register in advance.  Registration information for the workshops is here: http://groups.ucanr.org/WoodyBiomass/Workshops

Based on demand there may be another workshop in Nevada City - watch this space for further details.

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