(5d) From Forests to Clean Fuels – Biofuels Research at the USDA Forest Service

The USDA Forest Service is charged with caring for one our Nations most important strategic assets, our forests and grasslands. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Forest Service is the only federal agency with mission goals that encompasses research from feedstock to conversions technology. Our research strategically targets underutilized residual biomass remove from forest fire protection operations, forest restoration operations and forest health improvement operations. Key programs in our biofuels research include feedstock production, feedstock harvesting, collection and transportation, conversion technologies and economic assessment. The results of our research in biofuels contribute to our nation's alternative fuel goals set by our President and Congress, and provide incentives for forest managers to remove unwanted biomass in forests that will positively impact the health and sustainability of our forests.