Community Wood Energy Program (10.685)

Program

10.685 Community Wood Energy Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Forest Service

Authorization

Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Title IX, Section 9013, Public Law 110-146.

Program Number

10.685

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Encourage the development of community wood energy plans and/or acquire or upgrade community wood energy systems.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Discretionary)

Uses and Use Restrictions

A community wood energy system acquired with grant funds or receiving technical assistance shall not exceed an output of 50 million Btu per hour for heating and/or 2 megawatts for electric power production. see above. competitive grants, demonstrations, contracts for services, and direct technical assistance are anticipated.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

No additional Information.

Beneficiary Eligibility

No additional information.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Applicants will submit SF 424 forms as applicable, a proposal, budget and budget narrative along with other information specifically required in the public announcement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 120 to 180 days.

Appeals

not applicable.

Renewals

not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 50.%. At least 50 percent match is required from Non-Federal funds for grants. Technical Assistance will be based on previous work and commitment to future work demonstrated by the applicant.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not established at this time, although no more than three years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: reimbursement and/or advance payment on a monthly, quarterly or bi-annual basis.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The recipient will complete programmatic reports, including an annual report, as indicated in OMB Circulars and award terms. No cash reports are required. This requirement is not fully established at this time. However, programmatic reporting is required and may include progress to date requirements. The recipient will complete required financial reports as indicated in OMB Circulars and award terms. The Forest Service will monitor the progress of recipient perform under awards.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. none at this time

Records

The recipient shall make all program and financial records pertaining to an award available for Forest Service or other designated federal agency auditors for a period of 3 years from the date of award completion.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1105-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 not reported.; FY 09 est $5,000,000; FY 10 est $5,000,000 - FY 2011 estimated funding, $5,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not established at this time.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Eastern US - Lew R. McCreery, Biomass Coordinator, USFS Northeastern Area, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304-285-1538 FAX: 304-285-1537 lmccreery@fs.fed.us
Western US - Dave Atkins, Forest Service Fuels for Schools Program Manager, 200 E. Broadway, Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807, 406-329-3134, FAX: 329-3132, datkins@fs.fed.us.

Headquarters Office

Steven Yaddof One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53726-2398 Email: syaddof@fs.fed.us Phone: 608-231-9200 Fax: 608-231-9310

Web Site Address

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Community wood energy systems have been in operation in Vermont since the early 1980s. In the past 7 years, western states have taken this technology and created the "Fuels for Schools and Beyond" program to promote and encourage the use of renewable and sustainable woody biomass to provide reliable heat to schools, hospitals and prisons. Interest continues to grow in many other states. Examples can be found at: http://www.fuelsforschools.info/projects.html#Case%20Studies. Fiscal Year 2009: none to report at this time. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

National merit based criteria will be set for competitive grants. State, Tribal or local government request for technical assistance will be competitively selected based on established criteria.