The U. S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Technology Marketing Unit, located at the Forest Products Laboratory, requests proposals for wood energy projects that require engineering services.

These projects will use woody biomass, such as material removed from forest restoration activities,

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wildfire hazardous fuel treatments, insect and disease mitigation, forest management due to catastrophic weather events, and/or thinning overstocked stands.

The woody biomass shall be used in a bioenergy facility that uses commercially proven technologies to produce thermal, electrical or liquid/gaseous bioenergy.

The funds from the Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization (WBU) Grant program must be used to further the planning of such facilities by funding the engineering services necessary for final design and cost analysis.

Examples of projects might include engineering design of a 1) woody biomass boiler for steam at a sawmill, hospital or school, 2) non-pressurized hot water system for various applications, and 3) biomass power generation facility.

To join in support of the public interest and general welfare to protect communities and critical infrastructure, the applicants to this program seek assistance to complete the necessary design work required to secure public and/or private funding for construction for developing local enterprises to better utilize woody biomass.

In particular, USDA Rural Development has established grants and loan programs that might help fund construction of such facilities.

The lack of engineering design often limits the ability of an applicant or business to receive federal, state or private funding.