President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) into law on February 17, 2009. The Recovery Act provided DOE several billion dollars in funds to accelerate research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities that support jumpstarting our economy, promoting green jobs, and focusing on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

The Recovery Act has presented considerable opportunities for the advancement of biomass technologies by providing more than $1 billion in funds across the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office as well as several other DOE programs and offices. These funds enabled the office to expand and diversify its portfolio – providing nearly $600 million in funds for integrated biorefineries to demonstrate and deploy new technologies and more than $70 million for research and development in advanced biofuels, including algae. For more information on office investments, see the Bioenergy Technologies Office ARRA fact sheet; see the DOE Recovery Act Investment in Biomass Technologies fact sheet for projects across the Department. Below are the initial announcements related to the Recovery Act projects.

Department of Energy to Invest Nearly $18 Million for Advanced Biofuels User Facility – March 31, 2010
U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi today announced that the Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will build an advanced biofuels process development facility aimed at speeding the commercialization of advanced biofuels by allowing researchers and the private sector to test and integrate innovative technologies. The facility—funded with nearly $18 million from the Recovery Act—will be a publicly available facility where researchers can integrate process steps and test innovative technology pathways, such as those being developed at DOE's Office of Science Bioenergy Research Centers. This facility will be the only one of its kind available for public use.

Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $80 Million Investment for Advanced Biofuels Research and Fueling Infrastructure – January 13, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the investment of nearly $80 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced biofuels research and fueling infrastructure that will help support the development of a clean sustainable transportation sector. 

Secretaries Chu and Vilsack Announce More Than $600 Million Investment in Advanced Biorefinery Projects – December 4, 2009
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 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.  

DOE Announces Recovery Act Funding of up to $5.5 Million for Ethanol Blends Infrastructure and Outreach August 5, 2009
As part of the ongoing effort to support the development of domestic renewable fuels, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of up to $5.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase the use of higher ethanol blends up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) by expanding refueling infrastructure and launching targeted outreach to promote public awareness.

DOE Announces Recovery Act Funding of up to $85 Million for Algal and Advanced Biofuels July 16, 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of up to $85 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the development of algae-based biofuels and advanced, infrastructure-compatible biofuels.

DOE to Invest $786.5 Million in Recovery Act Funds in Biofuels May 6, 2009
President Barack Obama announced on May 5 that DOE plans to invest $786.5 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for biorefinery demonstration projects.

President Obama Takes Action to Advance Biofuels Production May 6, 2009
President Barack Obama announced on May 5 that his administration is taking several steps to advance biofuels research and commercialization. The president signed a Presidential Directive to help preserve biofuel industry jobs and to establish the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, which will develop the nation's first comprehensive program for growing the biofuels market.

Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization May 5, 2009
As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects.

Recovery Act Financial Opportunities for Biomass Projects

Recovery Act Expansion of Ethanol Infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Bioenergy Technologies Office announces a notice of funding of up to $5.5 million for efforts to enhance the availability and use of potential gasoline/ethanol blends up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) through two topic areas: Refueling Infrastructure for ethanol blends, and outreach for ethanol blends.

Recovery Act Development of Algal/Advanced Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Bioenergy Technologies Office announces a notice of funding of up to $85 million for establishing consortia for two primary topic areas: the development of algae-based biofuels, and the development of advanced cellulosic biofuels.

Recovery Act Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations
DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office has made a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) with a total funding estimate of up to $480 million to select integrated biorefinery projects that have the necessary technical and economic performance data that validates their readiness for the next level of scale-up. In general, integrated biorefineries employ various combinations of feedstocks and conversion technologies to produce a variety of products, with the main focus on producing biofuels and bioproducts. Co- or by-products can include additional fuels, chemicals (or other materials), and heat and power.

Learn More

To learn more about the Recovery act, visit the following sites:

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