Farm Energy

(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…)

On June 12, 2009, the USDA issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Repowering Assistance, Section 9004 of the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, USDA will provide payments to rural biorefineries in existence before July 18, 2009, that replace fossil energy with biomass.

This program provides funding assistance for biorefineries to reduce their carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuels used in their heat and/or power process with renewable biomass. (more…)

ELPC’s John Moore recently sat down with Ethanol Producer Magazine to discuss the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. This new program, which ELPC supported in the 2008 Farm Bill, will help farmers located near biomass facilities to grow and process sustainably-grown energy crops. ELPC is working to jump-start this new program as quickly as possible.

The 2008 Farm Bill contained the groundbreaking Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

This program, if taken up by local farm energy leaders, can spur a new climate-friendly and farmer-friendly energy source. BCAP, implemented well, could make a major difference for our energy future. (more…)