Six biofuel projects in western North Carolina have been awarded $694,058 in funding from the Biofuels Center of North Carolina.

The money comes from the biofuels development funding program “Catalyzing Production in Western North Carolina,” which uses part of the Tennessee Valley Authority settlement funds directed to the Biofuels Center by the North Carolina General Assembly. Panels comprised of representatives from industry, nonprofits, and the state reviewed applications and made funding recommendations.The recipients are:

  • North Carolina State University, $156,898, for “Populus Trials for Biofuels Production in Western North Carolina.” This project will determine the capacity for short-rotation woody crops to produce cellulosic feedstocks in different climates and soils in North Carolina.
  • North Carolina State University, $143,787 for “On-farm Evaluation of Perennial Biofuel Crops in WNC.” This project will educate farmers and Cooperative Extension agents through demonstrating the best economic and agronomic data for energy grasses.
  • Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, $125,375 for “Cold-hardy Sugarcanes for Western North Carolina.” This project will develop high-yield hybrids that can be established with vegetative propagation.
  • Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, $124,628 for “Reinventing Giant Miscanthus.” This project will develop high-yield hybrids that can be established with vegetative propagation.
  • Carolina Land & Lakes RC&D, $67,648 for “Feasibility Study of WNC Feedstock Depot,” a project that will assess the economics of a feedstock depot to serve current industries and the biofuels industry in western North Carolina.
  • Appalachian State University, $65,722 for “Investigating the Economic Viability of a Municipal Solid Waste-to-Biofuels Facility in Western North Carolina,” a project that will assess the economic viability of using municipal solid waste generated in the 32 counties of western North Carolina.