BIO Applauds USDA Announcement of New Biomass Project Areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, July 26, 2011) - The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) helps growers in every state establish energy crops for bioenergy, advanced biofuels, and biobased products. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s announcement of four new BCAP project areas in six states that are expected to generate as many as 3,400 jobs in rural areas.

“Establishing bioenergy crops is a prerequisite for building commercial-scale advanced biorefineries for biofuels, biobased products and bioenergy. The Farm Bill Energy Title programs, such as the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, help growers, financers and biorefiners coordinate their efforts to build the industry from the ground up with a fully integrated supply chain,” stated Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section.

“The rules for many of these programs have only recently been finalized, and we greatly appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s efforts to speedily implement them. The announcement today brings the total number of BCAP project areas to nine, representing 10 states. These projects will demonstrate the ability to grow bioenergy crops in every region of the United States, which can support hundreds of thousands of jobs within the bioenergy industry. Continuation of this program is vital to continued development of the advanced biofuels and biobased products industry.”