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The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) has been awarded a cooperative agreement to administer the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program (SERBEP), funded through the Department of Energy’s Atlanta Regional Office. Through the use of small, cost-shared grants, the Program encourages economic development through public/private partnerships that demonstrate bioenergy technology applications. Over $1 million in funding will be available to southern states during 1999-2000. The objectives of SERBEP are:
- To improve government and industry capabilities and effectiveness in the production and use of biomass resources,
- To support planning efforts that make these resources available,
- To encourage economic development through private and public investment in biomass technologies, and
- To engage in research projects that demonstrate biomass technology applications.
During the past 15 years of its existence, the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program has had a very positive effect on the development of technologies that use renewable energy resources. Over $176 million in new technology applications exist in our region today because of this program. SSEB will manage the program with the goal to accelerate the development of new technologies, and then transfer them to the private sector where they can improve our production capabilities and strengthen the competitive advantage of the southeast.
The southeast stands to benefit from the responsible development of bioenergy, perhaps more than any region in the country. In the southeast, bioenergy use was reported to be 1.59 quadrillion Btus (quads) in 1995. This represents about 56% of the 2.85 quads of biomass used nationally. The region’s bioenergy resource potential is estimated to be between 4 and 7 quads, from sources such as waste wood products, bagasse, animal wastes, biogas from landfills and sewage treatment facilities, and biomass crops. These biofuels are a valuable supplement to more conventional forms of energy and eliminate wastes while energizing the economy of the region.
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