USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers a number of programs to help rural businesses development and some of them are targeted to renewable and sustainable energy.
Administrator Karama Neal talked about some of those programs during an address to the Clean Fuels Conference. “So much of your priorities, goals and impact align well with USDA priorities,” said Neal. “First on the list is combating climate change … we understand investments in renewable energy will reduce emissions and create new and better market opportunities for all producers.”
One program of particular interest to clean fuels producers is the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. “This program provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development and construction of commercial scale biorefineries utilizing new and emerging technologies to produce advanced biofuels or renewable chemicals.”
Listen to Neal’s remarks here: