Wood energy projects sought for stimulus aid

By BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — The state Department of Conservation is requesting applications for biomass heat and energy installation projects for funding through federal recovery act funds.

Some 15 shovel-ready projects from public institutions, including schools, hospitals, and state, county, local and tribal government agencies, will be funded with $11.4 million stimulus funds received by the state, according to a state Conservation Department news release.

These are one-time funds that will be spent or committed within two years. Working in conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Legislature and the U.S. Forest Service, the Conservation Department has determined that it will use the stimulus funding for contracts to support new or far-reaching programs to convert public facilities in Maine to wood heat.

Through the fuel conversion process, the stimulus funding will create and support jobs among licensed solid wood-fuel professionals, contractors and engineering firms. Use of the recovery funds also is expected to benefit loggers and other forest-products professionals.

The biomass project applications must be submitted by Jan. 5, 2010, and the awards will be announced as soon as possible. The proposals must come from public institutions, rather than vendors, and must meet two basic guidelines: the wood-to-energy projects must be shovel-ready, and they must create or retain jobs.

The request for applications is available at www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/arra or contact Jennifer Wright, Maine Forest Service, at jennifer.wright@maine.gov.

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