Bently Biofuels receives federal grant

Bently Biofuels of Gardnerville was one of two Nevada companies to receive advanced biofuels support from the United States Department of Agriculture recently.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday $14 million in fourth quarter and increased production bonus payments to 162 producers to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels from a variety of non-food sources, including waste products.

Bently and Las Vegas-based Biodiesel, which both make biodiesel from waste vegetable oil, were recipients of a portion of those funds.

Bently received $17,362 in payments and Biodiesel of Las Vegas received $5,400.

A portion of Bently’s payment is in recognition of Bently’s increase in production of biodiesel from prior years.

“I am pleased that in Nevada the refineries that use this program are creating a useable fuel out of waste oil,” said Sarah Adler, Nevada State Director of USDA Rural Development. “It has been important to provide this support to smooth out the revenue cycle in this developing industry.”

The USDA said the announcement was one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

“These payments represent the Obama administration’s commitment to develop an energy strategy that reduces America’s dependence on fossil fuels and foreign energy,” Vilsack said. “Producing advanced biofuels is a major component of the President’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy that is designed to take control of America’s energy future, in part, by developing domestic, renewable energy sources.’

The funding is being provided through USDA’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuels produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible feed stocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; vegetable oil; and animal fat. Biodiesel is made from an increasingly diverse mix of non-food feedstocks, including used cooking oil, agricultural oils and animal fats.