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As wildfire risks intensify across the American West, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is stepping up with a powerful funding tool designed to support forest health, boost rural economies, and expand the use of low-value woody biomass: the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grants.
These grants can be a game-changer for biomass power producers, wood product companies, and rural communities committed to reducing fire risk through smarter utilization of forest residues.
What Are Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grants?
These grants cover transportation and logistics costs for moving hazardous fuels—such as logging slash, small-diameter trees, and forest residues—from National Forest System lands to processing facilities like biomass power plants, sawmills, or wood pellet operations.
Transporting low-value forest material over long distances is often economically infeasible. This program bridges that gap, helping recipients offset trucking, rail, barge, and equipment costs.
What’s Covered?
Eligible expenses include:
- Hauling costs (by truck, rail, or barge)
- Loading/unloading equipment
- Woodyard infrastructure (chippers, scales)
- Leased or modified mobile equipment
- Site improvements that aid material movement
The goal is to enable the movement of hazardous biomass from fire-prone forests to facilities that can turn it into clean energy or useful products—contributing to both wildfire prevention and climate-smart utilization.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Biomass power plants
- Forest product manufacturers
- Logging contractors
- Tribes and tribal enterprises
- Nonprofits and cooperatives
- Local and state governments
Applicants must have an existing wood-supply agreement or stewardship contract with the Forest Service and demonstrate that transportation costs are the key barrier to using that material.
Grant Terms at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum award | $5 million |
| Cost share requirement | 50% non-federal match |
| Eligible material | Merchantable & non-merchantable wood from NF lands |
| Priority areas | Wildfire-prone zones, especially Emergency Situation Determinations (ESDs) |
| 2025 application deadline | June 20, 2025 (now closed) |
| Next funding round | Expected in early 2026 |
Why It Matters
- Wildfire Resilience: By removing excess biomass from high-risk forests, these grants help reduce the intensity and spread of wildfires.
- Job Creation: They support local logging, hauling, and processing jobs—especially in rural and tribal communities.
- Clean Energy: Biomass facilities can convert hazardous fuels into low-carbon electricity and heat.
- Waste Reduction: The program ensures wood residues don’t go to waste—while reducing open pile burns.
What Should You Do Now?
If your organization missed the 2025 deadline, it’s not too late to benefit. The Forest Service is expected to announce the next grant round in early 2026. Here’s how to prepare:
- Review Existing Agreements: Ensure you have an active wood-supply or stewardship agreement with the Forest Service.
- Analyze Transportation Costs: Identify where high haul distances or fuel costs create a barrier.
- Plan Your Match: Identify how you will meet the 50% non-federal cost share—whether through private funds, in-kind services, or state programs.
- Track Announcements: Monitor USDA Forest Service and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) channels for 2026 application news.
- Join Webinars: NWTF and other partners often provide webinars to walk applicants through the process.
A Win-Win for Forests and Communities
The USDA Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program is more than a grant—it’s a strategic investment in the health of our forests, the resilience of our communities, and the vitality of a sustainable forest economy.
Whether you operate a biomass power plant, manage a tribal forestry program, or support rural fire mitigation efforts, this grant program can help you turn fire-prone fuel into climate-smart opportunity.
For the official USDA Forest Service program page, visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/forest–management/products/hazardous-fuels-transport-assist-grants
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