Source: NCDA&CS, 9/5/14

The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative is seeking grant proposals focused on research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today.

“A total of $1 million in competitive grants is available, with funding coming from the N.C. General Assembly and a portion of the state’s TVA Settlement Fund,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We have a great opportunity in North Carolina with our agricultural know-how and our forestry resources to develop renewable bioenergy, and that’s what these grants are intended to focus on.”

A total of $438,583 from the TVA Settlement Fund would support projects in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties. The remaining $561,417 would support projects from other counties. The deadline to submit proposals is Sept. 26.
The N.C. General Assembly approved funding in its 2013 session to boost energy production from North Carolina agricultural and forestry products, offering new opportunities for agribusiness development and supporting cooperative research for biofuels production.

Projects can focus on production and harvesting methods and plant variety work,  including genetic improvement and selection; establishment methods; weed management; nutrient uptake, usage and removal; harvest management such as methods, timing, transporting and storage; stand management such as renovation for productivity, planting dates, crop management and eradication when necessary; physiology, growth and development of biomass energy crops; new species with bioenergy potential; multiple crop production practices such as crop rotation and intercropping; and education and demonstration.

Individual applications should not exceed $100,000 in direct funding from the grant program. However, special consideration may be given to multi-year projects that warrant funding in excess of $100,000. Project coordinators can submit multiple applications if there are enough differences in the proposed projects to warrant separate consideration. For a grant application or more information, contact Allison Medlin with the N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative at 919-693-2483.