S.Amdt. 3002

SA 3002. Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms.
Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to provide for the modernization of the
energy policy of the United States, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Strike section 3017 (relating to bio-power) and insert the
following:

SEC. 3017. BIO-POWER.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Bio-power.--The term ``bio-power'' means the use of
woody biomass to generate electricity.
(2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the
Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly.
(3) Woody biomass thermal.--The term ``woody biomass
thermal'' means the use of woody biomass--
(A) to generate heat; or
(B) for cooling purposes.
(b) Woody Biomass Thermal and Bio-power.--The Secretaries
shall coordinate research and development activities relating
to bio-power and woody biomass thermal projects--
(1) between the Department of Agriculture and the
Department; and
(2) with other departments and agencies of the Federal
Government.
(c) Woody Biomass Thermal and Bio-power Grants.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretaries shall establish a
program under which the Secretaries shall provide grants to
relevant projects to support innovation, market development,
and expansion of the commercial, institutional, industrial,
and residential bioenergy sectors in woody biomass thermal
and bio-power.
(2) Applications.--
(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, the owner or operator of a relevant project
shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretaries may require.
(B) Administration.--In administering the application
process under subparagraph (A)--
(i) the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall administer the process with respect to
applications for grants under subparagraphs (A) and (C) of
paragraph (3); and
(ii) the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the
Secretary, shall administer the process with respect to
applications for grants under paragraph (3)(B).
(3) Allocation.--Of the amounts appropriated to carry out
this subsection, the Secretaries shall not provide more
than--
(A) $15,000,000 for projects that develop innovative
techniques for preprocessing biomass for woody biomass
thermal and bio-power, with the goals of lowering the costs
of--
(i) distributed preprocessing technologies, including
technologies designed to promote densification, torrefaction,
and the broader commoditization of bioenergy feedstocks; and
(ii) transportation;
(B) $15,000,000 for woody biomass thermal and bio-power
demonstration projects, including--
(i) district energy projects;
(ii) combined heat and power;
(iii) small-scale gasification;
(iv) innovation in transportation; and
(v) projects addressing the challenges of retrofitting
existing electricity generation facilities, including coal-
fired facilities, to use biomass; and
(C) $5,000,000 for demonstration projects and research and
development of residential wood heaters towards meeting all
targets established by the most recent standards of
performance established by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency under section 111 of the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7411).
(4) Regional distribution.--In selecting projects to
receive grants under this subsection, the Secretaries shall
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, diverse
geographical distribution among the projects.
(5) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project
carried out using a grant under this subsection shall be 50
percent.
(6) Duties of recipients.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this subsection, the owner or operator of a
project shall--
(A) participate in the applicable working group under
paragraph (7);
(B) submit to the Secretaries a report that includes--
(i) a description of the project and any relevant findings;
and
(ii) such other information as the Secretaries determine to
be necessary to complete the report of the Secretaries under
paragraph (8); and
(C) carry out such other activities as the Secretaries
determine to be necessary.
(7) Working groups.--The Secretaries shall establish 3
working groups to share best practices and collaborate in
project implementation, of which--
(A) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under paragraph (3)(A);
(B) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under paragraph (3)(B); and
(C) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under paragraph (3)(C).
(8) Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, the
Secretaries shall submit to Congress a report describing--
(A) each project for which a grant has been provided under
this subsection;
(B) any findings as a result of those projects; and
(C) the state of market and technology development,
including market barriers and opportunities.
(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $35,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2026, to remain
available until expended.
(d) Low-interest Loan Program.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
establish, within the Rural Development Office, a low-
interest loan program to support construction of residential,
commercial or institutional, and industrial woody biomass
thermal and bio-power systems.
(2) Requirements.--The program under this subsection shall
be--
(A) carried out in accordance with such requirements as the
Secretary of Agriculture

[[Page S275]]

may establish, by regulation, taking into consideration best
practices; and
(B) designed so that small businesses and organizations--
(i) can readily apply for loans with minimal paperwork
burdens; and
(ii) shall receive a loan approval decision by not later
than 90 days after the date of submission of the loan
application.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry
out this subsection $100,000,000.
(e) Statewide Wood Energy Teams.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
establish a program, to be administered by the Chief of the
Forest Service, to establish interdisciplinary teams, to be
known as ``Statewide Wood Energy Teams'', in eligible States
interested in expanding woody biomass thermal and bio-power.
(2) Application process.--
(A) In general.--A State desiring formal designation and
funding for a Statewide Wood Energy Team shall submit to the
Chief of the Forest Service an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Chief of
the Forest Service may require.
(B) Applications for new teams.--
(i) In general.--A State without a Statewide Wood Energy
Team in existence as of the date of enactment of this
subsection may apply for formal designation and funding in
accordance with the process established under subparagraph
(A).
(ii) Preference.--The Chief of the Forest Service shall
give preference to applications that show interdisciplinary
engagement by a diversity of stakeholders in States with
significant forest health challenges.
(3) Priority of funding.--A Statewide Wood Energy Team in
existence as of the date of enactment of this subsection
through cooperative agreements with the Forest Service shall
receive highest priority as funds are allocated at the
discretion of the Chief of the Forest Service.
(4) Report.--Once every 2 years, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report on the progress
of the Statewide Wood Energy Teams.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry
out this subsection $20,000,000.
(f) Promoting Bioenergy in Federal Facilities.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary to fund bio-power and woody biomass thermal
energy system installations at new or existing Federal
facilities $20,000,000.
(2) Consultation required.--The Secretary, the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the Administrator of General Services shall
consult regularly to ensure optimal success of the activities
described in paragraph (1).
(g) DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
the Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships
of the Department $5,000,000 to increase the capacity and
expertise of the Department to provide technical and other
assistance for combined heat and power systems that use wood
as a fuel source.
(h) DOE Research on Small Gasifier Systems.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to assess and
develop market opportunities for small gasifiers, turbines,
and other small scale energy thermal and combined heat and
power systems that use wood as a fuel source $5,000,000.
(i) Fuels to Schools and Beyond Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``Fuels for Schools And Beyond'', to
convert public, tribal, or nonprofit facilities, such as
hospitals, schools, clinics, prisons, and local government
buildings, to woody biomass based heating, cooling, or
electricity systems.
(2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive funds under
this subsection, the owner or operator of a relevant project
shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretaries may require.
(3) Priority.--The program described in paragraph (1) shall
give priority to facilities located in rural or economically
disadvantaged areas of the United States.
(4) Use of funds.--Funds made available under the program
described in paragraph (1) may be used for feasibility
assessments, fuel supply assessments, engineering design,
identifying financing and funding for infrastructure
investments, and permitting of the systems described in that
paragraph.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
(j) Wood Energy Works Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall grant
funding to a non-Federal organization to create and deliver
an initiative for the purpose of providing free project
assistance from design through construction and education,
training, and resources related to the design of wood energy
systems for a wide range of building types including mid-
rise, multi-residential, commercial, institutional, and
industrial buildings.
(2) Reports.--
(A) In general.--The initiative described in paragraph (1)
shall report quarterly to the Secretary of Agriculture on the
progress and accomplishments of the initiative.
(B) Report to congress.--On receipt of a report under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit
to Congress a report on the progress and accomplishments of
the initiative.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and
(B) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2027.
(k) Coordination of Efforts to Create Interagency Wood
Energy Policy Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct an
evaluation of Federal policies as of the date of the
evaluation and make recommendations on how Congress can
better support the industrial, commercial, and residential
wood energy sectors in the United States.
(2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to
Congress a report on the evaluation conducted under paragraph
(1).
(3) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection $500,000.
(l) Regional Technical Assistance Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretaries shall establish a regional
biomass energy program that provides technical assistance to
install wood energy systems for heating, cooling, or
electricity at new or existing facilities.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $200,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026, of which--
(A) 50 percent shall be made available to the Secretary;
and
(B) 50 percent shall be made available to the Secretary of
Agriculture.
(m) Strategic Analysis and Research.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting jointly with the
Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the
Forest Service) and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, shall establish a woody biomass thermal
and bio-power research program--
(A) the costs of which shall be divided equally between the
Department, the Department of Agriculture, and the
Environmental Protection Agency; and
(B) to carry out projects and activities--
(i)(I) to advance research and analysis on the
environmental, social, and economic costs and benefits of the
United States bio-power and woody biomass thermal industries,
including--

(aa) complete lifecycle analysis of greenhouse gas
emissions;
(bb) net energy analysis;
(cc) integrated analysis of the impacts of spatial and
temporal scales on greenhouse gas and net energy life cycle
analysis;
(dd) stand- and landscape-level implications of biomass
harvest on biodiversity, ecosystem function and ancillary
benefits of forest; and
(ee) advanced modeling of coupled land use change and
future climate impacts on future forest health and biomass
production; and

(II) to provide recommendations for policy and investment
in those areas; and
(ii) to identify and assess, through a joint effort between
the Chief of the Forest Service and the regional combined
heat and power groups of the Department and the Environmental
Protection Agency, the feasibility of thermally led district
wood energy opportunities in all regions of the Forest
Service, including by conducting broad regional assessments,
feasibility studies, and preliminary engineering assessments
at individual facilities.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary, the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency--
(A) $2,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1)(B)(i); and
(B) $1,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
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