USDA invests in woody Maine
In the north-easterly state of Maine in the US, a large portion of harvested wood would go to waste if it was not used to fuel biomass conversion facilities.
Now, the US Agriculture Department (USDA) will provide up to $150 million (€104.3 million) in funding until 30 September to boost Maine’s struggling biomass industry.
Maine has the nation's second-highest number of biomass facilities, behind only California.
The federal agency’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program will double the income of Maine loggers and aggregators who provide wood materials to facilities that turn them into energy.
‘We knew the industry needed some beefing up, so to speak, to help them get stabilised, and in Maine this is great because it fits us perfectly,’ Don Todd, state executive director for the Farm Service Agency of USDA, comments.
Maine biomass suppliers have been hit by lower prices for wood materials because of sluggish demand in the regional economy.
The funding is expected to offset the high cost of fuel and other production costs, and help in paying the bills for material supplies and labour. About 250 of the state’s 600 eligible suppliers have signed up so far.
Many Maine paper mills use biomass to generate electricity, which they use in their own facilities, and sell to the regional transmission grid.
Todd states the USDA will make a further $350 million in biomass assistance available for suppliers outside Maine in the coming weeks.
Now, the US Agriculture Department (USDA) will provide up to $150 million (€104.3 million) in funding until 30 September to boost Maine’s struggling biomass industry.
Maine has the nation's second-highest number of biomass facilities, behind only California.
The federal agency’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program will double the income of Maine loggers and aggregators who provide wood materials to facilities that turn them into energy.
‘We knew the industry needed some beefing up, so to speak, to help them get stabilised, and in Maine this is great because it fits us perfectly,’ Don Todd, state executive director for the Farm Service Agency of USDA, comments.
Maine biomass suppliers have been hit by lower prices for wood materials because of sluggish demand in the regional economy.
The funding is expected to offset the high cost of fuel and other production costs, and help in paying the bills for material supplies and labour. About 250 of the state’s 600 eligible suppliers have signed up so far.
Many Maine paper mills use biomass to generate electricity, which they use in their own facilities, and sell to the regional transmission grid.
Todd states the USDA will make a further $350 million in biomass assistance available for suppliers outside Maine in the coming weeks.
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