WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Up to $25 million in funding for research and development of biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products is available from two U.S. departments.
The projects are considered part of the Obama administration's investment to "help strengthen our economy and address the climate crisis," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Friday in a news release. "A robust biofuels industry focused on the next generation of biofuels is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our addiction to foreign oil and putting Americans back to work."
The departments of energy and agriculture are overseeing the funding program.
The projects would seek to create a diverse group of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass, Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the joint release. Advanced biofuels produced from these types of sources are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50 percent.
"These grants will help support the development of a sustainable domestic biofuels industry by broadening the nation's energy sources as well as improving the efficiency of renewable fuels," Vilsack said.
The announcement is available online at www.grants.gov.
