Federal Government Partners & Cooperators

Partners and cooperating organizations in the Federal government for the Chariton Valley Biomass Project include:

U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Biomass Program, manages and provides federal cost-share funding for the research and demonstration phase of the Chariton Valley Biomass Project. The project was launched with the assistance of a competitively awarded grant through the Department of Energy’s Biomass Power for Rural Development solicitation. Private-sector partners have provided over 50% cost-share to match the federal funding.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service - NRCS - has provided vital management and technical assistance at the local level to the Chariton Valley Biomass Project since the project’s inception.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D. NREL develops renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advances related science and engineering, and transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals. NREL has provided technical assistance to the Chariton Valley Biomass Project in the planning and execution of several of the project’s test burns and equipment processing tests.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory, and has been the DOE’s lead laboratory for biomass feedstock research and development. ORNL has assisted the Chariton Valley Biomass Project in managing and reviewing all aspects of the project’s feedstock development and farm-related research activities since the project’s inception. To access the Bioenergy Information Network, ORNL’s gateway to biomass information, click here.