Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will make payments to more than 160 energy producers in 41 states to support and ensure the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.

"Renewable energy production will create tens of thousands of direct, American jobs; thousands more indirect jobs, and clean electricity to power millions of homes.”

The payments are authorized under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Section 9005 of the 2008 farm bill) and 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, other than corn kernel starch.

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.

To see a list of the recipients announced today click here.

For example, Ever Cat Fuels has been selected to receive a $98,507contract payment to help offset the costs of producing almost 881,000 gallons of biodiesel at its plant in Isanti, Minn.

Ever Cat uses the Mcgyan process to produce biodiesel, which efficiently and economically converts feedstock plant oils and animal fats to biodiesel.

Ever Cat produces three million gallons of biodiesel annually and is the first commercial plant designed to use the Mcgyan technology. The plant began operations two years ago, creating 20 full-time jobs.

In Corinth, Maine, Corinth Wood Pellets was selected to receive a $31,406 contract payment continue to produce and sell premium-grade wood pellets for the residential, industrial and commercial markets.

The wood pellets are produced from sawdust and woodchip feedstock.

A total of 18,224 metric tons of wood pellets were produced to generate 298,873,600,000 BTUs.