News Article

USDA Announces Supports to Grow Renewable Feedstocks for Biofuels
Date: Aug 02, 2012
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Featured firm in this article: Down to Earth Energy LLC of Monroe, GA



Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces payments for 125 advanced Biofuel producers to Grow Renewable Feedstocks for Advanced Biofuels. Part of the Administration's ‘All of the Above' Energy Strategy.

WASHINGTON - Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced payments for 125 advanced Biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels from a wide variety of sources, including waste products.

"Advanced biofuels are a key component of President Obama's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy to reduce the Nation's reliance on foreign oil and take control of America's energy future," said Vilsack. "These payments represent the hard work the private sector is doing to help spur an alternative fuels industry using renewable feedstocks, and help create an economy built to last."

The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; vegetable oil; and animal fat. Through this and other programs, USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves America's natural resources.

For example, in Somerset, Ky., Somerset Hardwood Flooring will receive a $7,040 payment for producing wood pellets from residual sawdust from its hardwood flooring manufacturing process. The company produces about 40 tons of wood pellets annually. FPE Renewables, LLC, based in Lyden, Wash., generates nearly two million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The firm will receive a payment of $9,612 for producing biogas primarily from dairy waste, which is converted to electricity. In West Point, Va., Virginia Biodiesel Refinery, LLC, will receive a payment of $7,900 for making biodiesel from recycled cooking oil and soybean oil.

It is important to note that increased biofuel production plays a relatively minor role in retail food price changes. The diversity of feedstock used to produce biodiesel allows for flexibility and helps relieve market pressures. Biodiesel is made from an increasingly diverse mix of feedstocks, including recycled cooking oil, agricultural oils such as soybean and canola oil, and animal fats, allowing most biodiesel producers to select from a choice of feedstocks if prices rise or supplies are short. Therefore, the industry's impact in commodity markets is significantly reduced. As the market expands for home-grown renewable energy, farmers and producers will create even more good-paying American jobs that can't be exported. The biofuels industry in the U.S. currently employs about 400,000 people and is expected to employ around a million people in the U.S. by 2022.

The Obama administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's leadership, has worked tirelessly to strengthen rural America, maintain a strong farm safety net, and create opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its most productive periods in American history thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers.

To most assist farmers and ranchers impacted by the most wide-spread drought in seven decades, USDA agencies have been working for weeks with state and local officials, as well as individuals, businesses, farmers and ranchers, as they begin the process of helping to get people back on their feet. USDA offers a variety of resources for states and individuals affected by the recent disasters. For additional information and updates about USDA's efforts, please visit www.usda.gov/drought.

USDA is announcing $19.4 million in payments to 125 local producers and business-owners. Below is a complete list of the 111 producers (by state) receiving payments of more than $500 for production of advanced biofuels. (Producers receiving payments in the amount of $500 or less are not included in the list.)

Arkansas

Delta American Fuel, LLC: $10,556 for biodiesel transesterification
Futurefuel Chemical Company: $256,440 for biodiesel transesterification

Arizona

Pinal Energy, LLC: $35,355 for ethanol production

California

American Biodiesel, Inc: $426,878 for biodiesel transesterification
Fiscalini Properties, LP: $541 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Gallo Cattle Company, LP: $1,283 for energy from an anaerobic digester
High Mountain Fuels, LLC: $17,155 for landfill gas
Imperial Western Products, Inc.: $710,618 for biodiesel transesterification
New Leaf Biofuel, LLC: $217,467 for biodiesel transesterification
Promethean Biofuels Cooperative Corp.: $2,377 for biodiesel transesterification

Connecticut

Biodiesel One, Ltd: $2,981 for biofuel from waste products
Biopur, Inc.: $2,409 for biofuel from waste products

Florida

Genuine Bio-Fuel, Inc.: $504,938 for biodiesel transesterification

Georgia

Down To Earth Energy, LLC: $602 for biodiesel transesterification
Nittany Biodiesel: $29,548 for biodiesel transesterification
U.S. Biofuels, Inc.: $13,740 for biodiesel transesterification

Hawaii

Pacific Biodiesel, Inc.: $28,646.80 for biofuel from waste products

Iowa

Clinton County Bio Energy, LLC: $64,382 for biofuel from waste products
Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC: $135,510 for biofuel from waste products
Renewable Energy Group, Inc.: $873,622 for biodiesel transesterification
Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC: $287,034 for biodiesel transesterification
Western Iowa Energy: $250,277 for biofuel from waste products

Idaho

DF-AP#1, LLC: $1,587for energy from an anaerobic digester

Illinois

Archer Daniels Midland Company: $596,279 for biodiesel transesterification
Incobrasa Industries, Ltd.: $305,038 for biodiesel transesterification
Midwest Biodiesel Product, LLC: $640,572 for biodiesel transesterification

Indiana

Integrity Biofuels, LLC: $26,004 for biodiesel transesterification
Louis Dreyfus Agricultural Industries: $613,428 for biofuel from waste products
Union County Biodiesel Company: $149,465 for biofuel from waste products

Kansas

Arkalon Ethanol, LLC: $1,868,965 for ethanol production
Bonanza Bioenergy: LLC: $121,500 for ethanol production
Emergent Green Energy, Inc.: $11,039 for biodiesel mechanical
Kansas Ethanol, LLC: $168,168 for ethanol production
Nesika Energy, LLC: $46,822 for ethanol production
Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, LLC: $98,791 for ethanol production
R-3 Energy, LLC: $4,292 for biofuel from waste products
Reeve Agri Energy, Inc.: $221,752 for ethanol production
Western Plains Energy, LLC: $3,130,184 for ethanol production

Kentucky

Griffin Industries, Inc: $13,060 for biofuel from waste products
Owensboro Grain Company, LLC: $394,025 for biodiesel transesterification
Somerset Hardwood Flooring: $7,040 for pellets
Southern Kentucky Pellet Mill, Inc.: $817 for pellets

Maine

Geneva Wood Fuels, LLC: $2,236 for pellets
Maine Woods Pellets Company, LLC: $6,277 for pellets
Northeast Pellets LLC: $624 for pellets

Massachusetts

Fuels of The Future, LLC: $1,249 for biofuel from waste products

Michigan

Scenic View Dairy, LLC: $27,856 for energy from an anaerobic digester

Minnesota

Cargill, Inc.: $350,769 for energy from an anaerobic digester / biodiesel transesterification
District 45 Dairy, LLP: $2,065 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Ever Cat Fuels, LLC: $146,077 for biodiesel transesterification
MN Soybean Processors: $309,311 for biodiesel transesterification
Riverview, LLP: $2,232 for energy from an anaerobic digester
West River Dairy, LLP: $1,584 for energy from an anaerobic digester

Missouri

Abengoa Bioenergy Corporation: $367,490 for ethanol production
Deerfield Energy, LLC: $159,221 for biodiesel transesterification
ME Bio Energy, LLC: $27,875 for biodiesel transesterification
Mid-America Biofuels, LLC: $294,369 for biodiesel transesterification
Natural Biodiesel Plant, LLC: $45,293 for biodiesel transesterification
Paseo Cargill Energy, LLC: $323,064 for biodiesel transesterification

Mississippi

Enviva, LP: $15,931.32 for Pellets
Ethos Alternative Energy Mississippi, LLC: $11,446 for biofuel from waste products
Scott Petroleum Corporation: $57,294 for biofuel from waste products

Nebraska

Ag Processing, Inc.: $313,119 for biodiesel transesterification

Nevada

Bently Biofuels Company: $3,479 for biofuel from waste products

New Hampshire

American Energy Independence Company, LLC: $1,805 for biofuel from waste products
New England Wood Pellet, LLC: $22,781 for pellets
Smartfuel America, LLC: $5,468 for biofuel from waste products

New Mexico

Mt. Taylor Machine, LLC: $532 for pellets
Rio Valley Biofuels, LLC: $4,154 for biofuel from waste products

New York

Aurora Ridge Dairy, LLC: $863 for energy from an anaerobic digester

North Carolina

Blue Ridge Biofuels, LLC: $27,837 for biofuel from waste products
North American Bio-Energies: $4,931 for biodiesel mechanical
Piedmont Biofuels Industrial, LLC: $1,072 for biodiesel mechanical

Ohio

Center Alternative Energy Company II: $31,791 for biodiesel transesterification

Oklahoma

High Plains Bioenergy: LLC: $1,628,461for biodiesel transesterification

Oregon

Sequential-Pacific Biodiesel: $125,799 for biodiesel transesterification
Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc.: $18,852 for energy from an anaerobic digester

Pennsylvania

Lake Erie Biofuels, LLC: $993,122 for biodiesel transesterification

Rhode Island

Newport Biodiesel, LLC: $5,354 for biofuel from waste products

South Carolina

Evergreen Biodiesel Production Facility: $37,419 for biofuel from waste products

Tennessee

Bioenergy Development Group, LLC: $645 for biodiesel transesterification
Hassell & Hughes: $1,223 for pellets

Texas

Agribiofuels, LLC: $17,139 for biodiesel transesterification
Element Markets, LLC: $1,199 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Green Earth Fuels of Houston, LLC: $369,467 for biodiesel transesterification
White Energy, Inc.: $743,124 for ethanol production

Virginia

Potomac Supply Corporation: $8,228 for pellets
Reco Biodiesel, LLC: $42,799 for biodiesel transesterification
Virginia Biodiesel Refinery, LLC: $7,900 for biodiesel transesterification

Vermont

VT Wood Pellet Co., LLC: $1,713 for pellets

Washington

Farm Power Lynden, LLC: $793 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Farm Power Rexville, LLC: $965 for energy from an anaerobic digester
FPE Renewables, LLC: $9,611 for energy from an anaerobic digester
GDR Power, LLC: $1,054 for energy from an anaerobic digester
General Biodiesel, Inc.: $4,976 for biodiesel transesterification
Imperium Grays Harbor, LLC: $418,115 for biodiesel transesterification
Qualco Energy: $715 for energy from an anaerobic digester

Wisconsin

Bio Blend Fuels: $958 for biodiesel transesterification
Buckeye Ridge Renewable Power, LLC: $3,995 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Green Valley Dairy, LLC: $880 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Grotegut Dairy Farm, Inc.: $6,836 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Holsum Dairies, LLC: $1,913 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Marth Peshtigo Pellet Company, LLC: $786 for pellets
Marth Wood Shaving Supply, Inc.: $2,432 for pellets
Norswiss Digester, LLC: $3,918 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Quantum Dairy, LLC: $1,045 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Stargest Power, LLC: $3,598 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Statz Brothers, Inc.: $2,481 for energy from an anaerobic digester
Sun Power Biodiesel, LLC: $8,502 for biodiesel transesterification
Walsh Bio Fuels, LLC: $65,036 for biodiesel transesterification

West Virginia

Hamer Pellet Fuel: $8,086 for pellets

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, business and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way -- strengthening America's economy and strengthening small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of existing Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. 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.