by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) California Ethanol + Power’s Sugar Valley Energy project — 160 acres of integrated biorefinery ambition — wants to turn sugarcane into 73 million gallons of low-carbon ethanol, 771 million cubic feet of renewable natural gas, and
Biorefinery Renewable Chemical Biobased Product Mfgr Assistance 9003 Program
Back TO HOMEThompson Promises Farm Bill Vote This Month
by Marc Heller (Politico Pro E&E Daily) House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson said he'll try to end a nearly three-year delay in updating agriculture policies. -- House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson pledged Wednesday (February 4, 2026) to complete a five-year farm bill
February 05, 2026 Read Full Article
Here’s How the U.S. Can Outcompete Its Competitors: Parts 1 and 2
by CJ Evans (Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition/Federal Funding Services/Biofuels Digest) ... He (CJ Evans) has seen far too many projects fall by the wayside, not because they were flawed or not any good, but because they could not get additional grants
February 03, 2026 Read Full Article
Key House Bills Foster Aviation Sustainability, Energy Independence
(Climbing. Fast) The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently advanced critical language in two key Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills recognizing the importance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the role it plays in decarbonizing aviation. In the FY26 House Agriculture
July 28, 2025 Read Full Article
Budzinski Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Biofuels and Biobased Manufacturing Innovation
by Josie Lionetti (Riverbender.com) Today (May 8, 2025), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act (Ag BIO Act), a bipartisan bill to support the biofuel economy in Illinois and across the country. The legislation updates
May 09, 2025 Read Full Article
LysteMize Digestion of Livestock Waste: Lystek Announces Research Project with Support from Natural Resources Canada
(Lyste/Globe Newswire) Lystek International (Lystek) is excited to announce the LysteMize Livestock Waste Characterization Study with support from the Department of Natural Resources Canada and Brown and Caldwell. Lystek has been awarded approximately $585,000 from the federal government’s Energy Innovation Program, as part of the Clean Fuels
November 26, 2024 Read Full Article
Boozman Unveils Senate Ag Republicans Framework Answering Call to Put More Farm in the Farm Bill
(U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry) U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement after unveiling the Senate Republican-drafted framework answering the call for a farmer-focused
June 12, 2024 Read Full Article
Stabenow, Thompson Release Outlines For 2024 Farm Bill
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., on May 1 released outlines for competing versions of the 2024 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is
May 02, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Commercial Scale Federal Funding Options
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Federal funds are available to support commercial-scale projects. However, Different Federal Departments/Agencies can have different priority areas. Some are Restricted to small businesses, some to rural areas. All programs have limits on funding amount, and some
March 07, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Development and the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The USDA mission serve all Americans by providing effective, innovative, science-based public policy leadership in agriculture, food and nutrition, natural resource protection and management, rural development, and related issues with a commitment to deliverable equitable and
January 11, 2024 Read Full Article
Budzinski Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Biofuels & Biomanufacturing Innovation
(Office of U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13)) U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase biofuel production and drive down energy costs for working families. The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity (Ag BIO) Act would increase funding for grants to support innovation
December 08, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Programs Supporting the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service manages a wide array of programs designed to support and accelerate deployment of the bioeconomy at scale. Among them, the Biobased Markets Program (BioPreferred®) – Sec. 9002, Bioenergy
November 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Budzinski Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Biofuels & Biomanufacturing Innovation
(Office of U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13)) This week, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase biofuel production and drive down energy costs for working families. The Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity (Ag BIO) Actwould increase funding for grants to support
November 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Farm Bill, Budget Extension Goes to President's Desk
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) The farm bill extension tied to short-term federal funding passed the Senate Wednesday night on an 87-11 vote and now goes to President Joe Biden to avoid the risk of another government shutdown. On the farm
November 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Klobuchar, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Biorefineries, Renewable Chemicals, and Biomanufacturing
(Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)) U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance the ability of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Assistance program to support the development of biofuels, renewable chemicals, and
October 31, 2023 Read Full Article
The Future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Depends on the 2023 Farm Bill
by Leah Garden (GreenBiz) Sustainable aviation fuel is emerging as the most viable path forward for a decarbonized aviation industry, if the 2023 Farm Bill provides adequate funding. -- ... Even though aviation contributes a total of 2.5 percent of GHG emissions annually, SAF
October 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Navigating the Financial Skyways: Financing SAF Projects in the US
by Todd Taylor (SAF Magazine/Avisen Legal) The pivot to SAF is not just a matter of overcoming technical and logistical roadblocks—it requires navigating an intricate financial labyrinth. ... Notably, equity and debt financing play pivotal roles in shaping the financial landscape of SAF
August 28, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the USDA Western Regional Research Center
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The USDA Western Regional Research Center has ~350 people, ~45 in bioproducts & biofuels. It’s part of the Agricultural Research Service, the ARS is the in-house research arm of the USDA. They partner with companies
February 27, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers loan guarantees, grants, and technical assistance support of the bioeconomy and access to capital for Commercialization of emerging technologies; Production of biofuels and renewable chemicals and manufacturing of biobased products;
February 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Senate Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Farm Bill Energy Programs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on Nov. 15 continued its work to develop the 2023 Farm Bill with a hearing focused on rural development and energy programs. The Higher Blends Infrastructure
November 16, 2022 Read Full Article
USDA’s Rural Business Cooperative Service: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The commercialization of emerging tech, the production of biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products – these are some of the things the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service is working on. Find out about their Guaranteed
June 17, 2022 Read Full Article
Moving Emerging Tech and Rural Development Forward: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA RBCS
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) loan guarantees, grants, and technical assistance support the bioeconomy and rural economic development, so what are some of these programs? What are some of the biogas and biobased programs and
December 24, 2021 Read Full Article
Biodiesel from FOG and Waste: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to SMES Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fats, oils and grease are used today more than ever before – we’re talkin’ billions and billions of gallons – and Smisson Mathis Energy Solutions is converting this waste into biodiesel. See the latest progress
April 23, 2021 Read Full Article
No Project Left Behind: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Funds & Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today we look at paths to leverage your next project using USDA programs and funds, with former acting USDA Undersecretary Bill Hagy, No Project will be Left Behind! Check out this illuminating slide guide covering
March 02, 2021 Read Full Article
8 Key Federal Resources Supporting Anaerobic Digestion
by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./ Biofuels Digest) ... One of President Biden’s Clean Energy initiatives includes partnering with farmers, ranchers and businesses engaged in livestock production to implement environmentally sound agriculture practices and deploy methane digesters that generate new sources of
February 24, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA’s Support for Rural Growth: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Business-Cooperative Service
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mark Brodziski, Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 about how the USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to support rural business growth across markets in
January 21, 2021 Read Full Article
USDA Issues Rule to Help Expand Production of Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Products
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand today announced that USDA has published a final rule to expand the production of renewable chemicals and biobased manufactured products. The rule, for the first
May 18, 2020 Read Full Article
CVR Energy to Explore Converting Refining Units for Renewable Diesel Production
by Laura Sanicola (Reuters) CVR Energy Inc is looking to convert certain units in its refineries to renewable diesel production to reduce its exposure to the cost of renewable fuel credits (RINs), the company said on Thursday. The project, which would involve using
May 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Getting Money to Survive and Thrive – Federal Programs and Resources Available to Support the Bioeconomy
by Bill Hagy (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) A series of PowerPoint Presentations outlining key Federal Financial Programs and Assistance that are available to support the domestic bioeconomy have been provided. This was not intended to be an” all inclusive” listing of
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA, DOE, SBA Programs for Biofuels, Biopower, Biochem: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Federal Programs Supporting Commercial Scale Development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earlier this week we shared the latest federal programs supporting demonstration concept and today our focus is on federal programs supporting commercial scale development for biofuels, biopower, biochemicals and biobased projects. Check out this slide
April 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Rural America’s Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Rural Energy for America Program, The Farm Bill
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Between droughts, trade wars, and more, Rural America has had so many challenges, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to help with various Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s programs including investment of approximately $2 billion across
January 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program DEADLINES: October 1, 2019 and April 1, 2020
(U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for funds available under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (the Program) to provide guaranteed loans to fund the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial
October 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Congress Retains Most Energy Programs in 2018 Farm Bill through Fiscal Year 2023
by Steve Hanson (U.S. Energy Information Administration) On December 20, 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) was signed into law, continuing federal support to a number of renewable electricity and bioenergy-related programs. Authorizations in the 2018 Farm Bill cover
February 03, 2019 Read Full Article
A Summary of Federal Programs: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicle Technology Incentives
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A wide array of federal incentives supports the development and deployment of alternatives to conventional fuels and engines in transportation. These incentives include tax deductions and credits for vehicle purchases and the installation of refueling systems,
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
It’s Past Midnight: Do You Know Where Funds for Your Farm Bill Energy Title Programs Stand?
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) On September 30th, the 2018 Farm Bill officially expired. And while both chambers of Congress passed their respective bills, the final version of the legislation that supports the agricultural sector in the U.S. is