The U.S. State Department announced:
The United States continues to be deeply concerned by the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa, and particularly the hard-hit Somali population. Despite the end of famine conditions in February, nearly 10 million people in the region still require humanitarian assistance. For this reason, the United States Government is providing an additional nearly $50 million in aid for refugees and drought-affected communities in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya in addition to what we have already provided.

Marc Gunther from GreenBiz.com writes:
So says Robert Brown, a professor of engineering at Iowa State University and a leader of the university’s Initiative for a Carbon Negative Economy and its Bioeconomy Institute. Those are interdisciplinary campus efforts to develop ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by growing plants or algae, making them into fuels and burying their carbon residues in soil -- and make money doing it.

The notion that we can generate wealth and remove CO2 from the air is obviously appealing. As atmospheric concentrations of CO2 rise and climate risks grow, so does the need for carbon-negative technologies that pull CO2 from the air, as plants do, and then store it underground or deep in the ocean.

The use of Biochar to act as a carbon sink is causing quite a stir among environmentalists and scientists alike. This ancient technology of burning organic matter then burying it in the ground to fertilize crops may have been around for over 3000 years in the Amazon Basin, but the research that shows that this method of fertilization will also absorb some of the carbon in the atmosphere means that this could be a really viable solution to the long term problem of carbon over production.

Idaho Department of Lands in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service has issued a RFP for Funding Assistance to Purchase Stationary Char Producing Equipment

Sage Community Resources is soliciting applications from individuals or companies in the restoration and fuel reduction business to add char production to the company’s use of the biomass being created by their operations or purchase of biomass to fuel a char production machine. Grant dollars must be used to purchase stationary char production equipment that will process biomass from the treated area, purchase biomass supply, or pay for DEQ permitting costs.

Eligible Applicants: Idaho individuals and companies in the restoration and fuel reduction business. Applicant must be registered as an Idaho business with the Secretary of State.
Maximum Grant Award: $200,000 maximum
Due Date for Proposals: 5 pm MST Tuesday March 1, 2011
Download information PDF
http://www.biochar-international.org/node/2280

The potential inclusion of biochar as a climate mitigation and adaptation technology within the UNFCCC remains uncertain, but there is continued reason for optimism among biochar’s many proponents. Continued significant progress in the biochar field, coupled with mounting efforts to incorporate agricultural mitigation and adaptation opportunities within the UNFCCC negotiations, provide promise that biochar as a soil amendment will one day be recognized as a climate mitigation and adaptation technology.

This update on the UNFCCC process through the COP16 Cancun negotiations will address the current state of the Framework Convention with regards to agriculture, and by extension, opportunities for biochar, as well. It should be noted that, while previous draft language on agricultural sector mitigation opportunities within the Framework referenced the potential for biochar, no mention of biochar is included in current text being deliberated. However, mounting pressure to address global food security issues concurrent with climate mitigation and adaptation have highlighted the need to address terrestrial and biological carbon mitigation opportunities, particularly those within the forestry and agricultural sectors. Food security will be challenged by global population growth, and is likely to be further complicated by increased warming and the resulting impacts to water availability, crop and livestock productivity, and changing disease vectors and patterns. ecognition of these challenges likely will lead to increased investments and a renewed focus on tools and technologies to enhance agricultural adaptation and the resilience of soils, in particular. Biochar is uniquely positioned to aid in these critical overlapping arenas by building soil carbon sinks and mitigating climate change while also enhancing soil quality and resilience to drought and certain diseases, as well.

Finally, the potential for a work program on agricultural sector mitigation to be taken up by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) as early as June, 2011 holds the most promise for establishing a clear role for biochar. SBSTA, which counsels the Conference of the Parties on matters of climate, the environment, technology, and methods, meets twice a year. It will be critical that SBSTA incorporate biochar as a mitigation technology within that work program as the most likely and near-term means for biochar recognition within the Convention.
Download full UNFCCC Report
http://www.biochar-international.org/node/2267

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the "Bill"). The legislation extends the effectiveness of a wide range of tax provisions, including the extension of Section 1603 Grants.

Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA") created an opportunity for renewable energy project developers to receive a cash grant in lieu of the investment tax credit. The grant is equal to an amount up to 30 percent of the tax basis of certain electricity-generating renewable energy projects. However, the ARRA limited the grant to energy projects either: (1) placed in service in 2009 or 2010, or (2) placed in service within a set number of years (depending on the type of project) after 2010 and for which construction begins by the end of 2010. Guidance on the program from the U.S. Treasury indicated that construction begins for this purpose if physical work of a significant nature had begun or if five percent or more of the total project costs were incurred. The Bill extends the deadlines by one year for both placing the project in service and beginning construction. In other words, grants are available for projects placed in service in 2011 or for which construction begins in 2011.
Read more http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/recovery/Pages/1603.aspx

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White recently announced the availability of conservation grants to support large-scale demonstration projects that will accelerate the adoption of new and innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote carbon sequestration on America’s private lands.

“By supporting the development of the most promising new approaches for reducing greenhouse gases we can identify new methods that may ultimately help every farmer and rancher reduce their carbon footprint,” White said. “We want to encourage technology that helps the environment but also improves producers’ ability to run sustainable and profitable operations by enhancing energy efficiency and soil quality.”

NRCS is making $5 million available nationwide through the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) program, and requesting proposals that meet the following requirements:

* Promote the adoption of conservation systems and practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon;
* Quantify the impacts of applied conservation practices on GHG emissions and carbon sequestration;
* Demonstrate and further develop opportunities for marketing environmental credits associated with reducing GHG emissions and/or increasing carbon sequestration;
* Quantify the environmental benefits of these practices and work with GHG trading organizations to assist eligible producers interested in selling their GHG emission-reduction credits; and
* Assess the market response to the availability of agricultural GHG credits.

CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. This is the first time NRCS has made GHG projects a focus of the CIG program. Project proposals must involve producers who are eligible for the NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers financial and technical assistance to help producers implement conservation practices on agricultural land. In addition to the CIG awards, NRCS will provide up to $10 million in EQIP funding to support eligible producers, who are working with grant recipients, as they implement conservation practices associated with selected GHG projects.

Funding for CIG is made available through the 2008 Farm Bill. Funds will be awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process with applications being accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Applications will be accepted from all eligible individuals, non-federal governments and non-governmental organizations, including federally recognized tribes and private businesses. At least 50 percent of the total cost of the GHG demonstration project must come from non-Federal matching funds (cash and in-kind contributions) provided by the grant recipient.

Applications for CIG GHG grants must be received in the NRCS National Headquarters by close of business February 11, 2011. Applications should be sent to: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Conservation Innovation Grants Program; National Technology Support Team, Room 6227-S; 1400 Independence Ave, SW; Washington, DC 20250.
Read more http://www.grants.gov/ Announcement of Program Funding http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html