,,ii #aad? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #abid ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,may #ab1 #bjae ,mr4 ,wyd5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces ,a ,,bill ,to require ! ,secret>y ( ,en]gy & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture to collaborate 9 promot+ ! developm5t ( effici5t1 economical1 & environm5tally su/a9able !rmally l$ wood en]gy sy/ems4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,bio5]gy ,act ( #bjae4 #b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,bioheat ,! t]m bioheat means ! use ( woody biomass to g5]ate heat4 7#b7 ,biop[] ,! t]m biop[] means ! use ( woody biomass to g5]ate electricity4 7#c7 ,initiative ,! t]m ,initiative means ! ,bioheat & ,biop[] ,initiative e/abli%$ "u section #c7;a74 7#d7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,en]gy4 7#e7 ,/ate ,wood ,en]gy ,team ,! t]m ,/ate ,wood ,en]gy ,team means a collaborative gr\p ( /akehold]s t-- 7,a7 c>ry out activities )9 a ,/ate to id5tify su/a9able en]gy applications = woody biomass2 & 7,b7 has be5 designat$ by ! ,/ate & ,private ,=e/ry organization ( ! ,=e/ ,s]vice z a ,/ate ,wood ,en]gy ,team4 #c4 ,bioheat & ,biop[] ,initiative 7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y1 act+ jo9tly ) ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 %all e/abli% a collaborative work+ gr\p1 to be kn[n z ! ,bioheat & ,biop[] ,initiative1 to c>ry out ! duties describ$ 9 subsection 7c74 7b7 ,bo>d ( ,directors 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,initiative %all be l$ by a ,bo>d ( ,directors4 7#b7 ,memb]%ip ,! ,bo>d ( ,directors %all consi/ (-- 7,a7 repres5tatives ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 :o %all s]ve z co*airp]sons ( ! ,bo>d2 7,b7 a s5ior (fic] or employee1 ea* ( :om %all h a rank t is equival5t to ! dep>tm5tal rank ( a repres5tative describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 ( ea* (-- 7i7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior2 7ii7 ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2 7iii7 ! ,national ,sci5ce ,f\ndation2 & 7iv7 ! ,(fice ( ,sci5ce & ,te*nology ,policy2 & 7,c7 at ! election ( ! ,secret>y & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 su* o!r memb]s z may be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>ies1 9 consultation ) ! ,bo>d4 7#c7 ,meet+s ,! ,bo>d ( ,directors %all meet n less frequ5tly ?an once ea* qu>t]4 7c7 ,duties ,! ,initiative %all-- 7#a7 coord9ate rese>* & developm5t activities relat+ to biop[] & bioheat projects-- 7,a7 betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy2 & 7,b7 ) o!r ,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies2 7#b7 provide recomm5dations to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy conc]n+ ! adm9i/ration ( ?is ,act2 & 7#c7 ensure t-- 7,a7 solicitations are op5 & competitive ) respect to applicable annual grant aw>ds2 & 7,b7 objectives & evaluation crit]ia ( solicitations = ^? aw>ds are cle>ly /at$ & m9imally prescriptive1 ) no areas ( special int]e/4 #d4 ,grant programs 7a7 ,demon/ration grants 7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli%1 )9 ! ,bio5]gy ,te*nologies ,(fice1 a program "u :i* ! ,secret>y %all provide grants to relevant projects to support innovation & m>ket developm5t 9 bioheat & biop[]4 7#b7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant "u ?is subsection1 ! own] or op]ator ( a relevant project %all submit to ! ,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require4 7#c7 ,allocation ,( ! am\nts made available to c>ry out ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all allocate-- 7,a7 #ae1jjj1jjj to projects t develop innovative te*niques = preprocess+ biomass = heat & electricity g5]ation1 ) ! goals (-- 7i7 l[]+ ! co/s (-- 7,i7 di/ribut$ preprocess+ te*nologies1 includ+ te*nologies design$ to promote d5sification1 torrefaction1 & ! broad] commoditization ( bio5]gy fe$/ocks2 & 7,,ii7 transportation & logi/ics co/s2 & 7ii7 develop+ te*nologies & proc$ures t maximize environm5tal integrity1 su* z r$uc+ gre5h\se gas emissions & local air pollutants & bol/]+ ! heal? ( =e/ ecosy/ems & wat]%$s2 & 7,b7 #ae1jjj1jjj to innovative bioheat & biop[] demon/ration projects1 includ+-- 7i7 di/rict en]gy projects2 7ii7 innovation 9 transportation & logi/ics2 & 7iii7 innovative projects address+ ! *all5ges ( retr(itt+ exi/+ coal-fir$ electricity g5]ation facilities to use biomass4 7#d7 ,regional di/ribution ,9 select+ projects to receive grants "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure1 to ! maximum ext5t practicable1 div]se geographical di/ribution among ! projects4 7#e7 ,co/ %>e ,! ,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a project c>ri$ out us+ a grant "u ?is subsection %all be #ej p]c5t4 7#f7 ,duties ( recipi5ts ,z a condition ( receiv+ a grant "u ?is subsection1 ! own] or op]ator ( a project %all-- 7,a7 p>ticipate 9 ! applicable work+ gr\p "u p>agraph 7#g72 7,b7 submit to ! ,secret>y a report t includes-- 7i7 a description ( ! project & any relevant f9d+s2 & 7ii7 su* o!r in=mation z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be necess>y to complete ! report ( ! ,secret>y "u p>agraph 7#h72 & 7,c7 c>ry out su* o!r activities z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be necess>y4 7#g7 ,work+ gr\ps ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% #b work+ gr\ps to %>e be/ practices & collaborate 9 project implem5tation1 ( :i*-- 7,a7 #a %all be compris$ ( repres5tatives ( fe$/ock projects t receive grants "u p>agraph 7#c77;,a72 & 7,b7 #a %all compris$ ( repres5tatives ( dem& & logi/ics projects t receive grants "u p>agraph 7#c77;,b74 7#h7 ,reports ,n lat] ?an #e ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a report describ+-- 7,a7 ea* project = :i* a grant has be5 provid$ "u ?is subsection2 7,b7 any f9d+s z a result ( ^? projects2 & 7,c7 ! /ate ( m>ket & te*nology developm5t1 includ+ m>ket b>ri]s & opportunities4 7b7 ,!rmally l$ wood en]gy grants 7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ! ,=e/ ,s]vice1 %all e/abli% a program "u :i* ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture %all provide grants to support comm]cially demon/rat$ !rmally l$ wood en]gy te*nologies1 ) priority giv5 to projects propos$ by ,/ate ,wood ,en]gy ,teams4 7#b7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant "u ?is subsection1 ! own] or op]ator ( a relevant project %all submit to ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture an application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture may require4 7#c7 ,allocation ,( ! am\nts made available to c>ry out ?is section1 ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture %all allocate #aj1jjj1jjj = feasibility assessm5ts1 eng9e]+ designs1 & con/ruction ( !rmally l$ wood en]gy sy/ems1 includ+ pellet boil]s1 di/rict en]gy sy/ems1 comb9$ heat & p[] in/allations1 & o!r te*nologies4 7#d7 ,regional di/ribution ,9 select+ projects to receive grants "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture %all ensure1 to ! maximum ext5t practicable1 div]se geographical di/ribution among ! projects4 7#e7 ,co/ %>e ,! ,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a project c>ri$ out us+ a grant "u ?is subsection %all be #ej p]c5t4 7c7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section-- 7#a7 #cj1jjj1jjj to ! ,secret>y to provide grants "u subsection 7a72 & 7#b7 #aj1jjj1jjj to ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture to provide grants "u subsection 7b74 #e4 ,loan programs2 /rategic analysis & rese>* 7a7 ,l[-,int]e/ loans 7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture %all e/abli%1 )9 ! ,rural ,developm5t ,(fice1 a l[-int]e/ loan program to support con/ruction ( !rmally l$ resid5tial1 comm]cial or in/itutional1 & indu/rial wood en]gy sy/ems4 7#b7 ,requirem5ts ,! program "u ?is subsection %all be c>ri$ out 9 accordance ) su* requirem5ts z ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture may e/abli%1 by regulation1 9 tak+ into consid]ation be/ practices4 7#c7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture to c>ry out ?is subsection #ej1jjj1jjj4 7b7 ,en]gy effici5cy & cons]vation loan program ,9 addition to loans "u subsection 7a71 !rmally l$ resid5tial1 comm]cial or in/itutional1 & indu/rial wood en]gy sy/ems %all be eligible to receive loans "u ! en]gy effici5cy & cons]vation loan program ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture "u section #b ( ! ,rural ,electrification ,act ( #aicf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ijb74 7c7 ,/rategic analysis & rese>* 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y1 act+ jo9tly ) ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture 7act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ! ,=e/ ,s]vice71 %all e/abli% a bioheat & biop[] rese>* program-- 7,a7 ! co/s ( :i* %all be divid$ equally betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture2 7,b7 to be ov]se5 by ! ,bo>d ( ,directors ( ! ,initiative2 & 7,c7 to c>ry out projects & activities-- 7i7 7,i7 to advance rese>* & analysis on ! environm5tal1 social1 & economic co/s & b5efits ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates biop[] & bioheat indu/ries1 includ+ associat$ lifecycle analysis ( gre5h\se gas emissions & net en]gy analysis2 & 7,,ii7 to provide recomm5dations = policy & inve/m5t 9 ^? areas2 7ii7 to id5tify & assess1 ?r\gh a jo9t ef=t betwe5 ! ,*ief ( ! ,=e/ ,s]vice & ! regional comb9$ heat & p[] gr\ps ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy1 ! feasibility ( !rmally l$ di/rict wood en]gy opportunities 9 all regions ( ! ,=e/ ,s]vice regions1 includ+ by conduct+ broad regional assessm5ts1 feasibility /udies1 & prelim9>y eng9e]+ assessm5ts at individual facilities2 & 7iii7 7,i7 to (f] to communities te*nical assi/ance to explore !rmally l$ wood en]gy opportunities2 & 7,,ii7 to provide enhanc$ s]vices to small] communities t h limit$ res\rces & capacity to pursue new !rmally l$ wood en]gy opportunities4 7#b7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture-- 7,a7 #b1jjj1jjj to c>ry out p>agraph 7#a77;,c77i72 7,b7 #a1jjj1jjj to c>ry out p>agraph 7#a77;,c77ii72 & 7,c7 #a1jjj1jjj to c>ry out p>agraph 7#a77;,c77iii74