WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 35 projects totaling $73 million for bio-energy research and development (R&D). Funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, these projects will help reduce the price of drop-in bio-fuels, lower the cost of bio-power, and enable high-value products from biomass or waste resources.

“The main goal of DOE’s bio-energy R&D is to produce affordable bio-fuels that are compatible with existing fueling infrastructure and vehicles across a range of transportation modes, including renewable-gasoline, -diesel, and -jet fuels,” said Secretary Rick Perry. “These projects will reduce the price of drop-in bio-fuels, lower the cost of bio-power, and enable high-value products from biomass or waste resources, while creating American jobs and strengthening our economy and energy security.”

 The United States has the potential to produce 1 billion dry tons of non-food biomass without disrupting agricultural markets for food and animal feed. This underutilized domestic resource could be used to produce 50 billion gallons of bio-fuels (25 percent of U.S. transportation fuels), 50 billion pounds of high-value chemicals and products, and 75 billion kWh of electricity (enough to power 7 million homes).

Learn more about the projects selected today and visit the Bio-energy Technologies Office website for information on DOE’s work with industry, academia, and national laboratories.