$564 million for 19 U.S. biorefinery projects

Dec. 7, 2009, Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture have
selected 19 integrated biorefinery projects to receive up to $564 million from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate the construction
and operation of pilot-, demonstration-, and commercial-scale facilities. The
projects, in 15 states, will help validate refining technologies and help lay
the foundation for full commercial-scale development of a biomass industry in
the United States. The selected projects will produce advanced biofuels,
biopower, and bioproducts using biomass feedstocks at pilot, demonstration, and
full commercial scales. The projects involve forestry and agricultural
residues, wood waste, biomass crops, algae, and municipal solid waste.

Of this nearly $564 million in Recovery Act funding, up to $483 million will go to
14 pilot-scale and 4 demonstration-scale biorefinery projects across the United
States. The remaining $81 million will focus on accelerating the construction
of a biorefinery project that was previously awarded funding. Collectively,
these projects will be matched with more than $700 million in private and
non-federal cost-share funds, for total project investments of almost $1.3
billion.

The biofuels and bioproducts produced through
these projects will displace petroleum and accelerate the industry’s ability to
achieve production targets mandated by the U.S. federal Renewable Fuel
Standard. These investments will help close the gap between the production from
the small number of biorefineries currently in operation and the aggressive
Renewable Fuel Standard goals for cellulosic and advanced biofuels.