USDA budget request addresses biofuels, bioproducts, feedstocks

Biorefining Magazine
By Erin Voegele February 16, 2012

The White House has released its Fiscal Year 2013 budget request for the USDA. The administration is asking for a total of $23 billion in discretionary funding, which is a nearly 3 percent decrease compared to the funding levels enacted for FY 2012. If enacted as proposed, the budget would invest $6.1 billion in renewable and energy and environmental improvements. According to the budget request, this would spur the creation of high-value jobs, make America more energy independent, and drive global competitiveness in the sector.

Agricultural Secretary Tom Vislack spoke specifically about the renewable energy components of the budget request following its release. “To promote the domestic production of renewable energy and create good jobs in rural communities, we'll invest in farmers, scientists and entrepreneurs working to develop a nationwide biofuels economy,” he said. “We'll also continue our partnership with the U.S. Navy and Department of Energy to boost the production of domestically produced aviation biofuels for use by the military.”

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