The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of approximately $18 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities.
Awards may be made for planning activities (max $100,000) or for working capital expenses (max $300,000), but not both.

For more information click here or contact Kenneth C. Randle, USDA Business Cooperative Specialist, 510 Highway 25 North, Suite 3, Starkville, Mississippi 39759,  Telephone: (662) 323-8031, Cell Phone: (662) 312-9540; kenneth.randle@ms.usda.gov

 

 

 

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced that 2,800 MW of new capacity were installed in 15 states, increasing the total to 28,206 MW nationwide.  Nine states now have more than a gigawatt (1,000 MW) of capacity, and Indiana is the fastest-growing with a 75% increase over 1Q 2008.  

Read the entire article. 

 

In other market news:

 

AEP Doubles Its Renewable Energy Goal to 2,000 MW

Shallow Offshore Wind Could Provide 20% of Coastal Electricity

Solar Cheaper Than Utilities for the First Time in Northeast

 

 

Who Knew that MS was THE Place for Biomass?

 

Forbes Manazine knew.  Forbes.com places Mississippi at number four (4) in the Nation for woody biomass on their list of America's Best Places for Alternative Energy.
 
Who knows that there are companies in Mississippi that are already capitalizing on this national ranking and going beyond using woody biomass? The Strategic Biomass Solutions (SBS) does, and wants everyone else to know it too!  That's why we are unveiling the Biomass & Renewable Energy Project Map.  There are over 50 State-wide projects on the map and the list is growing. Operational projects include all types; from ethanol and biodiesel production facilities to filling stations that sell E-85 for your FlexFuel vehicle, from environmentally friendly wall paint to bio based oil absorbents, from methane gas capture systems that could run your farm or manufacturing plant to biomass boiler systems to heat greenhouses. The Strategic Biomass Solutions program's aim is to promote the development and commercialization of renewable energy-related technologies.
 
SBS was previously known as the Strategic Biomass Initiative, but with a new direction to serve renewable energy companies, "energy-entrepreneurs," investors and economic developers, we are here to connect companies and funding and develop strategies for communities seeking to attract the new generation of energy companies.  Under funding provided by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and management of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, the SBS has worked with new and innovative technologies like solar trackers, cellulosic ethanol production processes, algae-to-energy applications, hydrogen generation, and uniquely designed wind turbines.  Strategic Biomass Solutions has funded 18 applied R&D projects, such as a fuel efficient flex-fuel engine, timber harvesting by using a slash bundler, and cutting edge research such as making ethanol using fungi.  Renewable energy research continues and is producing a growing industry in the State of Mississippi with a tremendous interest in commercial scale projects dealing with biomass, solar, wind and hydrokinetic technologies.  Take a look at the Biomass & Renewable Energy Project Map on the SBS website to learn more about what's happening in our state.  If you are curious to know more, call Sumesh Arora (601-960-3659; sarora@mta.ms) or LaTasha Bibb (601-960-3624; tbibb@mta.ms) for more information.

 

 

 

Delta College in Saginaw, MI is the latest to recognize the potential of careers in Alternative Energy with the appearance of wind farms across the state.  Their board of trustees recently approved a 2-year applied science degree program in wind energy. 

Read the entire article here. 

 

In other workforce news:

 

Employment in Wind Power Industry Increases by 70% in 2008

 

8th Annual Southern Bioproducts and Renewable Energy Conference Coming Up

Advocates for biomass utilization and renewable energy development from across the state and region will gather in Jackson, Mississippi on May 20-21, 2009, to learn, plan and network.  The theme of the conference "Stimulating Mississippi's Economy Through Renewable Energy", will be the rallying cry for researchers, project developers, and policy makers who will explore the critical pathway the State and Southern Region must take to advance a new energy future that is cleaner, vibrant and more secure.  This year's conference will continue cooperative efforts among Mississippi leaders to bring a new energy economy to life.  The conference will also challenge participants to work tirelessly in 2009 to develop a long-range plan to grow a vibrant industry sector in Mississippi focused on the utilization of our home-grown biomass resources and renewable energy technologies.  Agricultural, forestry, environmental, academia, business and labor leaders; corporate, state and national government partners; and all other renewable energy champions should attend.  For additional information, contact Sumesh Arora, Director of Strategic Biomass Solutions, Mississippi Technology Alliance, at 601-960-3659 or sarora@mta.ms.

 

A123Systems, headquartered in Watertown, MA, is a privately-held manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, using a process based on their patented Nanophosphate (TM) technology.  The company was formed in 2001 and currently has a workforce of approximately 1,100 employees located in Massachussetts, Michigan, and Asia.  Although they were dropped as a supplier earlier this year by GM, they were selected to supply batteries to Chrysler's ENVI Range-extended Electric Vehicles and battery only electric vehicles.  To assist with their recent project location in Livonia, MI (see Project Location section above), they received $100M in refundable tax credits from the state of MI, and they have also recently received $69M in capital from GE and other investors.  These announcements are seen as good news for the state of MI despite the recent Chrysler bankruptcy announcement.