The research grants were awarded under a joint DOE-USDA program that started in 2006 to focus on fundamental investigations of biomass genomics.
The program intends to harness nonfood plant biomass to manufacture fuels and chemicals.
The research projects are located in the states of New York, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, California, Minnesota, Missouri, and Michigan.
DOE’s Office of Science will offer $10.6m for eight projects, while USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will award $2m to fund the remaining two projects.
Both the departments said the first funding will support research projects for about three years.
US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said: "Biofuels and bio-based products offer the potential of homegrown American resources that can reduce our dependence on imported oil and also cut carbon emissions.
"This advanced research is helping us to lay the groundwork for biomass as an important part of the low-carbon future."
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said: "These awards are part of the Obama Administration’s "all of the above" energy policy.
"These projects will not only support our efforts to provide a sustainable and domestic energy source for the nation, but also improve the lives of rural residents."
According to the DOE, projects funded in 2014 will build upon gains in genetic and genomic resources for bioenergy and biofuels.
Image: US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. Photo: Courtesy of the US Department of Energy.
