Farm Energy

(April 20, 2011) USDA issued a notice yesterday setting a deadline of May 27, 2011 for submission of Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project area proposals for Fiscal Year 2011.  State-level USDA teams are required to complete their review of submitted applications by June 10. The deadline for a final, national-level review of applications sent up by state offices is June 24. This is a change from the final BCAP rule published last October, which anticipated USDA accepting applications on a rolling or on-going basis with no deadlines. (more…)

The Omnibus Appropriations Bill introduced to the US Senate late on December 14 would cut Farm Bill clean energy programs by over $120 million and would eliminate the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. See the following list of cuts:

• Rural Energy for America Program, Section 9007. Cut from total $99.34 million in 2010 to $70 million in 2011.
• Biomass Crop Assistance Program, Section 9011, is denied administrative funds, effectively killing the program.
• Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, Section 9005 is reduced by $28 million.
• Biorefinery Assistance Program Section 9003 is reduced by $56 million. (more…)

On October 27, 2010, USDA/FSA published the final rule implementing the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) in the Federal Register.  The rule is effective immediately and summarized, below. You can download the final BCAP rule here.

ELPC Reaction to Final BCAP Rule

ELPC welcomes publication of a BCAP rule that will finally and fully implement the entire BCAP program.  However, ELPC is disappointed that the final rule fails to ensure the majority of program resources will support sustainable perennial energy crop production.  No funding limitations are placed on the collection of existing biomass materials and the final rule does not require a competitive review process to give priority consideration to the most environmentally and economically sound BCAP projects. (more…)

This week ELPC organized and held well-attended briefings in Washington D.C. to educate House and Senate staff on the environmental and energy benefits of sustainably-grown “energy crops.” ELPC, in partnership with National Farmers Union (NFU) and the 25x’25 Alliance, convened the briefings, which featured speakers from ELPC, National Wildlife Federation, the University of Illinois, and industry organizations.

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(February 8) On February 8, 2010, USDA issued its proposed rule to implement the 2008 Farm Bill’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).  In the same proposal USDA also terminated an interim funding program under BCAP which has cost the government far more than expected.

USDA is accepting public comments on its BCAP proposal through April 9, 2010. Here is a copy of the proposal (opens in new window); otherwise, read on for more information on the proposal. (more…)

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently visited the Flick Seed Company and Show Me Energy Cooperative as part of the Obama Administration’s Rural Tour. Secretary Vilsack praised the operation as a model to “create new opportunities in rural communities and new markets for farm products.”

Shortly after Secretary Vilsack’s visit, Show Me Energy Cooperative became the first in the nation to be approved under the USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), providing a working model for sustainable biomass energy. Flick and his partners have developed an agricultural enterprise that provides jobs and increased income for growers – all while helping to slow global warming. (more…)