Program Includes Biomass Removals from Federal Lands to Reduce Forest Fires

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2014 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected 36 energy facilities in 14 states to accept biomass deliveries supported by the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Biomass owners who supply these facilities may qualify for BCAP delivery assistance starting July 28, 2014.

Of the total $25 million per year authorized for BCAP, up to 50 percent ($12.5 million) is available each year to assist biomass owners with the cost of delivery of agricultural or forest residues for energy generation. Some BCAP payments will target the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and Bureau of Land Management public lands for renewable energy, which reduces the risk of forest fire.

"This program generates clean energy from biomass, reduces the threat of fires by removing dead or diseased trees from public forest lands, and invests in rural businesses and new energy markets," said Vilsack. "The fires we are seeing right now in the west underscore the need for forest restoration and fire prevention. Pairing this effort with forest restoration on public lands will help guard against these fires while promoting economic opportunity for rural communities."

Farmers, ranchers or foresters who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a BCAP-qualified energy facility may be eligible for financial assistance for deliveries. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will begin accepting applications from biomass owners from July 28 through Aug. 25. Deliveries of residues for approved contracts may be made through Sept. 26, 2014.

The 36 BCAP energy facilities are:

Arizona

• Novo BioPower LLC (f/k/a Snowflake White Mountain Power)
• Forest Energy Corporation

California

• Burney Forest Power
• Pacific Ultrapower-Chinese Station
• HL(Honey Lake) Power Company
• Rio Bravo Rocklin
• Collins Pine Company
• Thermal Energy Development Partnership, LP
• Covanta Delano Inc.
• Covanta Mendota L.P.
• Sierra Pacific Industries - Sonora
• Sierra Pacific Industries - Burney Division
• Sierra Pacific Industries - Quincy Division
• Sierra Pacific Industries - Lincoln
• Roseburg Forest Products

Colorado

• Eagle Valley Clean Energy, LLC

Idaho

• Clearwater Paper Corporation
• Basic American Foods

Kansas

• Abengoa

Michigan

• Hillman Power Company LLC

Minnesota

• Minnesota Power – Hibbard Renewable Energy Center
• Minnesota Power – Rapid Energy Center

Missouri

• Enginuity

Montana

• Eureka Pellet Mills Inc.
• F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co.

Nebraska

• Chadron State College

New Mexico

• Mt. Taylor Machine LLC

Oregon

• Biomass One LP
• Interfor Pacific Inc., Gilchrist Division
• Ochoco Lumber dba Malheur Lumber
• Roseburg Forest Products
• Seneca Sustainable Energy, LLC

South Carolina

• Council Energy Inc.
• Allendale Biomass LLC
• Dorchester Biomass, LLC

Washington

• Boise White Paper

Visit www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap or a local FSA county office to learn more about BCAP.

BCAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.