The funds were allotted during Biomass 2013 annual conference, where Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz was highlighting the primarily role biofuels play in the Administration’s Climate Action Plan to increase energy diversification and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
Moniz said: "By partnering with industry and universities, we can help make clean, renewable biofuels cost-competitive with gasoline, give drivers more options at the pump and cut harmful carbon pollution."
Of the total investment, nearly $16.5m was awarded to four projects in California, Hawaii and New Mexico aimed at breaking down technical barriers and accelerating the development of sustainable, affordable algae biofuels, the statement said.
Hawaii BioEnergy, Sapphire Energy and New Mexico State University will each receive $5m and California Polytechnic State University will be granted $1.5m.
Secretary Moniz has also announced an investment of $6m for a new project led by FDC Enterprises to narrow down costs for harvesting, handling and preprocessing across the entire biomass feedstock supply chain.
