US: Funding available for Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program

Deadline: 19-Jan-22

The Forest Service has announced Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity.

• Expand thermally led community wood energy or innovative wood product opportunities,
• Improve forest health; and
• Stimulate local economies.

• All awards are based on funding availability.
• The Forest Service plans to award up to $5 million in total awards under this announcement. The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs.
• The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment.
• Applicants seeking special consideration must obtain prior approval from a Forest Service Regional Coordinator before submitting a proposal.
• Awards under this announcement are typically 2 to 3 years in length. Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for a longer period not to exceed 5 years.

• Are located where markets are needed for low-value or low-quality wood.
• Are located where the project will aid forest restoration.
• Use or retrofit an existing sawmill facility where the average annual unemployment rate exceeds the national average unemployment rate by more than one percent in calendar year 2019.
• Use the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler and will operate in a location with limited access to natural gas pipelines.
• Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).

• This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period.
• Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  • Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas.
  • Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility.
  • Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures.
  • Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce bio fuels from forest residues.

• This announcement contains all instructions to complete an application package and includes web links to required financial forms.
• Eligible applicants are non-profits; local, state, and tribal governments; businesses, companies, corporations (for profit); institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.)Your agency, business, or organization must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM)
• You must include a screenshot of the SAM registration page in the application appendices to be eligible for an award.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=335463