Rep. Mike Thompson Announces Funding to Expand The Production and Avaliability of Advanced Biofuels
November 2, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today announced more than $24,000 in Rural Development funds for Yokayo Biofuels, Inc. in Ukiah. The funds are used to provide payments to producers to support an expanding production of advanced biofuel. Yokayo Biofuels, Inc. uses waste vegetable oil as feedstock to produce biodiesel.
“Yokayo Biofuels is a model of how green businesses can grow our economy,” said Thompson. “Not only are biofuels good for our environment, growing the biofuel industry will lessen our dependence on foreign oil and spur green job creation.”
The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat.
"2010 was a rough year for biodiesel, but thanks to increased funding from government agencies this year, including this grant from the USDA, Yokayo Biofuels has been able to increase its staff from ten to eighteen employees, and is well-positioned to continue growing." said Kumar Plocher, CEO and founder of Yokayo Biofuels, Inc.
This grant is in addition to an $110,000 grant awarded by the USDA last month to Yokayo Biofuels for Biodiesel Trans Esterification - the process of transforming grease into fuel.
Thompson supports the USDA's investment in local companies like Yokayo to build a biofuels industry that grows our green economy and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Through this program the USDA is supporting the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources across America.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“Yokayo Biofuels is a model of how green businesses can grow our economy,” said Thompson. “Not only are biofuels good for our environment, growing the biofuel industry will lessen our dependence on foreign oil and spur green job creation.”
The funding is being provided through USDA's Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat.
"2010 was a rough year for biodiesel, but thanks to increased funding from government agencies this year, including this grant from the USDA, Yokayo Biofuels has been able to increase its staff from ten to eighteen employees, and is well-positioned to continue growing." said Kumar Plocher, CEO and founder of Yokayo Biofuels, Inc.
This grant is in addition to an $110,000 grant awarded by the USDA last month to Yokayo Biofuels for Biodiesel Trans Esterification - the process of transforming grease into fuel.
Thompson supports the USDA's investment in local companies like Yokayo to build a biofuels industry that grows our green economy and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. Through this program the USDA is supporting the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources across America.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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