Clean Energy Technologies unit secures $1m USDA grant to develop waste-to-energy facility

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY), through its affiliate Vermont Renewable Gas, LLC (VRG), has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This grant, part of a broader $1.05 billion initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to drive economic development and address energy costs in rural America.

The grant will support VRG’s 2.2-megawatt biomass energy facility in Lyndon, Vermont. The facility will convert agricultural and forestry waste into renewable fuel gas, BioChar fertilizer, and renewable electricity, contributing to Vermont’s environmental and economic sustainability. Expected to be operational within 12 months, the plant aims to produce over 18,000 MWh of electricity and 1,500 tons of BioChar annually.

The selection process for the REAP grant was competitive, with VRG chosen based on its potential to generate renewable energy and environmental benefits for the region. The USDA underscored the broader benefits of these projects, including cost reduction for farmers and small businesses, as well as tackling climate change. According to USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, projects like VRG’s “lower energy costs while expanding operations and helping to combat climate change.”

CETY will leverage its HTAP Biomass Reactor technology for the VRG project, a proprietary process that transforms organic waste into renewable energy and commercially valuable chemicals. This technology is central to CETY’s broader strategy of providing vertically integrated clean energy solutions. CEO Kam Mahdi highlighted the significance of this grant, noting that it represents continued federal support for VRG, following a $300,000 Wood Innovations Grant earlier this year.

CETY’s biomass projects, including the VRG – Lyndon facility, are part of a larger effort to capitalize on rising state and federal incentives for clean energy investments. The company’s existing heat recovery solutions will further enhance the value of these projects, generating additional income streams and advancing CETY’s mission to provide scalable clean energy solutions.

As demand for biomass and waste-to-energy solutions grows, CETY expects to expand its portfolio, with future projects poised to have a substantial environmental impact and generate new revenue opportunities.