Development of Methodologies for Determining Preferred Landscape Designs for Sustainable Bioenergy Feedstock Production Systems at a Watershed Scale | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE Grant DE-FOA-0000314

What is the focus of grant opportunity DE-FOA-0000314?

This U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity focuses on developing practical, science-based methodologies to identify and design "preferred" landscape configurations for producing bioenergy feedstocks sustainably at a watershed scale. The intent is to move beyond small plot and field experiments and create validated approaches that work at the scale where real-world planning decisions are made.

Which DOE office issued this funding opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Golden Field Office.

What problem is DOE trying to solve with this program?

DOE is addressing the challenge that the United States cannot realistically scale biofuels to meet national targets unless the environmental impacts of producing very large volumes of biomass can be proven, measured, and managed across real landscapes. The program is aimed at bridging the gap between field-scale agronomy results and watershed-scale deployment decisions.

Why does the funding announcement emphasize watershed-scale work?

Watershed-scale planning is where cumulative impacts and spatial arrangement matter, including interactions among land allocation, hydrology, nutrient flows, erosion risk, habitat fragmentation, and other cumulative effects. DOE highlights that plot- and field-scale optimization alone does not adequately support decisions about large-scale, mixed-use regions.

What does DOE mean by "preferred landscape configurations"?

Based on the notice, "preferred" landscape designs are spatial layouts and management strategies for energy crops and other biomass feedstocks that can be compared and evaluated to identify configurations that meet energy and economic objectives while also satisfying sustainability constraints at the watershed level.

What types of outcomes or goals does DOE want these methods to support?

The opportunity emphasizes tools and methodologies that help decision-makers deploy energy crops at large scale while meeting multiple goals at the same time: environmental sustainability at the watershed level, strong system productivity (high yields and reliable supply), economic viability for producers, and biomass quality suitable for multiple conversion pathways.

What is the sustainability challenge highlighted in the announcement?

The announcement points to a lack of verifiable, reliable environmental data at the watershed scale for high-yield energy crops and for other feedstocks that may be removed from the landscape. This data gap is described as a major barrier because credible sustainability claims and risk management depend on measurement and reliable modeling.

What kinds of environmental considerations are explicitly raised by the opportunity?

The notice raises land use, water quality, soil health, greenhouse gas outcomes, biodiversity, and long-term productivity as key considerations, particularly when dedicated energy crops are deployed across large, mixed-use landscapes.

Does this opportunity focus on dedicated energy crops, residues, or both?

DOE anticipates that much of the needed biomass would come from dedicated energy crops (purpose-grown feedstocks), not only residues or wastes. The opportunity also mentions concerns related to other feedstocks that may be removed from the landscape.

How does this grant relate to national biofuel policy and targets?

The funding announcement is grounded in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2), which set goals of 36 billion gallons per year of biofuels by 2022, including 21 billion gallons per year of advanced biofuels derived from cellulosic feedstocks.

What scale of biomass supply is referenced in the announcement?

The notice states that displacing roughly 30 percent or more of U.S. petroleum consumption would require on the order of one billion dry tons of sustainably produced biomass per year.

Why does DOE stress the need for tools to guide where and how energy crops are placed?

The announcement notes limited tools are available to guide landscape placement and management of energy crops and to evaluate tradeoffs as production scales up quickly. DOE is seeking validated methods that can reduce uncertainty and prevent unintended environmental harm during rapid deployment.

Is DOE looking for small-scale crop trials under this opportunity?

The notice indicates DOE was not simply looking for more small-scale crop trials. Instead, DOE was asking for validated, transferable approaches that evaluate and optimize sustainable biomass production systems across whole watersheds.

What kinds of decisions are these methodologies intended to support?

The methodologies are intended to support planning and decision-making for large-scale energy crop deployment in real landscapes, including comparing alternative spatial layouts and management strategies and identifying options that balance production, economics, and sustainability at the watershed scale.

What category and program identification information is provided?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). It falls within environment, science and technology, and other research and development categories.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is required, indicating DOE expected applicants to bring committed partner resources or complementary funding.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key deadlines?

The opportunity was posted on June 2, 2010. A notice of intent to apply was requested by June 22, 2010 (11:59 PM Eastern). The application closing date was July 16, 2010.

Where were additional details hosted?

The announcement indicates additional details were hosted through FedConnect.

Who was the listed contact for questions or access issues?

The listed contact was A. J. Cash at the DOE Golden Field Office: 303-275-4701 and james.cash@go.doe.gov.

Why does the announcement mention rapid expansion happening in parallel with biorefinery buildout?

The notice recognizes that energy crop expansion may need to occur quickly and at the same time biorefineries are being developed. That timing increases the urgency for planning approaches that support coordinated regional development and reduce uncertainty and unintended environmental impacts.

What does DOE mean by bridging the gap between field-scale experiments and watershed-scale decisions?

DOE is highlighting that results from controlled or limited field trials do not automatically translate into reliable guidance for large regions. Watershed-scale deployment requires methods that account for cumulative impacts and spatial interactions across landscapes where agriculture, forestry, and rural land uses mix.