Staff Office

Office of Energy Policy and New Uses

OEPNU assists and advises the Secretary of Agriculture in developing and coordinating USDA energy policy, programs, and strategies.

The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) operates within the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy (OEEP) to assist and advise the Secretary of Agriculture in developing and coordinating USDA energy policy, programs, and strategies, and helps ensure that USDA is positioned to anticipate and respond to emerging challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of renewable energy.

OEPNU’s responsibilities include:

Publishing the annual Indicators of the U.S. Biobased Economy report, which examines the economic benefits generated by biofuels and biobased products. For more information on the biobased economy visit the Bioeconomy Research and Development website.
Supporting the Federal Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board in its work to accelerate innovative technologies that harnesses U.S. biomass resources to produce affordable and environmentally friendly biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. Visit the Biopreferred Products website for more information.
Working with EPA and other Federal agencies to implement, monitor and update the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Visit EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard website for more information on the program.