The competitive grant program is part of the N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative. 

 

A total of $438,583 from the TVA Settlement Fund would support projects in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties. The remaining $561,417 of the nearly $1 million total in funding would support projects from other counties. 

 

The deadline to submit proposals geared toward boosting energy production from state agricultural and forestry products is Sept. 26.

 

The goal is to offer new opportunities for agribusiness development and supporting cooperative research for biofuels production.

 

 

According to Commissioner Troxler's news release, projects can focus on production and harvesting methods and plant variety work,  including genetic improvement and selection; establishment methods; weed management; nutrient uptake, usage and removal; harvest management such as methods, timing, transporting and storage; stand management such as renovation for productivity, planting dates, crop management and eradication when necessary; physiology, growth and development of biomass energy crops; new species with bioenergy potential; multiple crop production practices such as crop rotation and intercropping; and education and demonstration.

 

Individual applications should not exceed $100,000 in direct funding from the grant program. However, special consideration may be given to multi-year projects that warrant funding in excess of $100,000.