The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or Department) is proposing to provide federal funding for the Abengoa Biorefinery Project. DOE would provide approximately $85 million in federal funding pursuant to section 932 of EPAct 2005 to Abengoa Bioenergy for the final design, construction, and startup of a commercial-scale biomass-to-ethanol and -energy production facility near
The integrated biorefinery would use a combination of biomass feedstocks, such as corn stover and wheat straw, to produce ethanol and to generate sufficient electricity to power the facility and supply excess electricity to the regional power grid.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) serves as the nation’s basic charter for environmental protection. It requires that all federal agencies consider the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions. Because DOE’s proposal to co-fund the biorefinery meets the conditions outlined in NEPA as "an action proposed by a federal agency," DOE is preparing an environmental impact statement to report its analysis of the proposed action and alternatives.