S.Amdt. 3319

SA 3319. Mr. WYDEN 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 and insert the following:

SEC. 3017. WOODY BIO-POWER.

Section 803 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 (42 U.S.C. 17282) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``this section'' and
inserting ``paragraph (5)'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``this section'' and
inserting ``this subsection''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``or to receive any form of Federal assistance under
subsection (c)'' after ``paragraph (1)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``a grant under this
section'' and inserting ``a grant under this subsection or
any form of Federal assistance under subsection (c)'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as paragraph (5), and
indenting appropriately;
(3) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking
``this section'' and inserting ``this subsection''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Woody Bio-power.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Woody biomass.--The term `woody biomass' means any
material derived from trees and brush in forest ecosystems
that is considered to be biomass (as defined in section
203(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15852(b))).
``(B) Woody biomass-derived thermal energy.--The term
`woody biomass-derived thermal energy' means the use of woody
biomass--
``(i) to generate heat; or
``(ii) for cooling purposes.
``(C) Woody bio-power.--The term `woody bio-power' means
the use of woody biomass to generate electricity.
``(2) Woody bio-power and woody biomass-derived thermal
energy.--The Secretary shall coordinate research and
development

[[Page S1006]]

activities relating to woody bio-power and woody biomass-
derived thermal energy projects with other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government.
``(3) Woody bio-power and woody biomass-derived thermal
energy grants.--
``(A) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary shall provide grants to support
innovation, market development, and expansion for woody bio-
power and woody biomass-derived thermal energy in the
commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential
bioenergy sectors.
``(B) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this paragraph, the owner or operator of a relevant
project shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(C) Allocation.--Of the amounts appropriated each fiscal
year to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary shall not
provide more than--
``(i) $15,000,000 for projects that develop innovative
techniques to preprocess woody biomass for use in woody bio-
powered and woody biomass-derived thermal energy and for
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;

``(ii) $15,000,000 for woody bio-power and woody biomass-
derived thermal development projects, including--

``(I) district energy projects;
``(II) combined heat and power;
``(III) small-scale gasification;
``(IV) innovation in the transportation of woody biomass;
and
``(V) projects addressing the challenges of retrofitting
existing electricity generation facilities, including coal-
fired facilities, to use biomass; and

``(iii) $5,000,000 for 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).
``(D) Regional distribution.--In selecting projects to
receive grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall
ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, diverse
geographical distribution among the projects.
``(E) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out using a grant under this paragraph shall
be 50 percent.
``(F) Duties of recipients.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this paragraph, the owner or operator of a
relevant project shall--
``(i) participate in the applicable working group under
subparagraph (G);
``(ii) submit to the Secretary a report that includes--

``(I) a description of the project and any relevant
findings; and
``(II) such other information as the Secretary determines
to be necessary to complete the report of the Secretary under
subparagraph (H); and

``(iii) carry out such other activities as the Secretary
determines to be necessary.
``(G) Working groups.--The Secretary shall establish 3
working groups to share best practices and collaborate in
project implementation, of which--
``(i) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under subparagraph (C)(i);
``(ii) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under subparagraph (C)(ii); and
``(iii) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of projects
that receive grants under subparagraph (C)(iii).
``(H) Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report describing--
``(i) each project for which a grant has been provided
under this paragraph;
``(ii) any findings as a result of those projects; and
``(iii) the state of market and technology development,
including market barriers and opportunities.
``(I) 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.
``(4) Promoting bioenergy in federal facilities.--
``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary to fund woody bio-power and woody biomass-
derived thermal energy system installations for new or
existing Federal facilities $20,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
``(B) Consultation required.--The Secretary and the
Administrator of General Services shall consult regularly to
ensure optimal success of the activities described in
subparagraph (A).
``(5) 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.
``(6) DOE research on small gasifier systems.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 to
assess and develop market opportunities for small gasifiers,
turbines, and other small-scale thermal energy and combined
heat and power systems that use wood as a fuel source.
``(7) Wood energy works program.--
``(A) In general.--Of the amounts appropriated to carry out
this paragraph, the Secretary shall grant funding to a non-
Federal organization to create and deliver an initiative for
the purpose of providing free assistance from the design
phase through the construction phase for wood energy projects
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.
``(B) Reports.--
``(i) In general.--A non-Federal organization described in
subparagraph (A) shall report quarterly to the Secretary on
the progress and accomplishments of the initiative.
``(ii) Report to congress.--For each fiscal year in which
funding is appropriated to carry out this paragraph, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the progress
and accomplishments of the funded initiatives.
``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph--
``(i) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and
``(ii) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through
2027.
``(8) Coordination of efforts to create interagency wood
energy policy report.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with
other relevant Federal agencies, shall conduct an evaluation
of Federal policies as of the date of enactment of this
subsection and make recommendations on how Congress can
better support the industrial, commercial, and residential
wood energy sectors in the United States.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the evaluation conducted and
recommendations made under subparagraph (A).
``(C) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this paragraph $1,000,000.
``(9) Regional technical assistance program.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a regional
woody biomass energy program that provides technical
assistance to install woody bio-power or woody biomass-
derived thermal energy systems for heating, cooling, or
electricity at new or existing facilities.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $75,000,000
for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2026.
``(10) Strategic analysis and research.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting jointly with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall
establish a woody biomass thermal and woody bio-power
research program--
``(i) the costs of which shall be divided equally between
the Department and the Environmental Protection Agency;
``(ii) to carry out projects and activities to advance
research and analysis on the environmental, social, and
economic impacts of the United States woody bio-power and
woody biomass-derived thermal energy industries, including--

``(I) full accounting of greenhouse gas emissions;
``(II) net energy analysis; and
``(III) advanced modeling of future climate impacts coupled
with land use changes on future forest health and biomass
production;

``(iii) to provide recommendations for policy and
investment in those areas; and
``(iv) to identify and assess, through a joint effort
between the Secretary 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, including by
conducting--

``(I) broad regional assessments; and
``(II) feasibility studies and preliminary engineering
assessments for individual facilities.

``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency--
``(i) $2,000,000 to carry out clauses (ii) and (iii) of
subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) $1,000,000 to carry out subparagraph (A)(iv).''.
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