John Davis: Equipment grants available for innovative uses of woody biomass

The USDA Forest Service recently announced $8 million in grant funding available for applied research projects that expand wood product and wood energy markets and improve forest health. Applications for funding will be accepted through January 23, 2019.

Eligible applicants include businesses; State, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities; non-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (e.g. public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts and ports).

Eligible projects include:

Funding for stationary wood energy equipment,
Engineering designs, cost analyses, and permitting,
Developing manufacturing capacity and markets for wood products
Showcasing quantifiable environmental and economic benefits of using wood as a green building material in a commercial building and projected benefits
Developing a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area or specific market segment (i.e. hospitals, universities, manufacturing sector)
Overcoming barriers and stimulating expansion of wood energy in the commercial sector.

This Request for Proposals prioritizes projects which reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands; reduce costs of forest management on all land types; and, promote the economic and environmental health of communities.

Applicants must contribute a 50% match of the grant funds requested from the Forest Service. In other words, for every $2 of Federal funding requested, the applicant must provide at least $1 in match from non-Federal sources. The match portion may include cash or in-kind contributions with third-party letters of support confirming the dollar value of in-kind contributions.

For more information and application materials, check out at the Forest Service’s Wood Innovations webpage.