Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that two New Mexico companies have been awarded federal funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support renewable energy.

JL Shavings in Tularosa and Restoration Solutions in Corona will each receive a $350,000 grant to help them develop innovative uses for woody biomass in national forests as a source of renewable energy.

"This funding is an investment that will strengthen two New Mexico businesses, while working to expand the use of alternative energy," Bingaman said.

Woody biomass includes trees, woody plants, tree limbs, tops and needles that are byproducts of forest thinning and hazardous fuel reduction activities.

Bingaman, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is a strong supporter of renewable energy production, such as biomass.