Waste-to-Energy Program Expands Resources and Eligibility
WASHINGTON — The Department of Energy is expanding its popular waste-to-energy technical assistance program to include additional waste resources and enable state governments to participate.
Administered by the department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the program is intended to help communities evaluate the most sensible end-uses for their waste.
Through the program the Technologies office will provide participants with information on waste resources, infrastructure considerations, comparisons of energy and resource recovery options, case studies and equity assessments.
The program was established in recognition that food and wood waste, wastewater sludge, plastics, paper and other materials pose significant environmental, economic and social sustainability challenges for communities.
Because these waste streams require local solutions on various aspects of their management, such as existing uses and costs of disposal, this technical assistance program provides states, counties, municipalities and tribal governments with the most relevant data for their decision-making.
Insights gained from this program can help communities evaluate the most sensible end-uses for their waste, such as repurposing for on-site heat/power, transportation fuels, resource recovery or other options, the agency said.
The 2024 Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance application portal opened Monday, and applications will be accepted through April 15.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
