Sec. 308. Energy and environmental remediation demonstration project for biochar
824 words·~4 min read·
/bill/117/hr/4334/ih/section-308A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program to enter into partnerships with eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects to support the development and commercialization of biochar in accordance with this subsection. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish biochar demonstration projects in geographically diverse regions. To be eligible to enter into a partnership to carry out a biochar demonstration project under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
In selecting proposals under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give priority to partnering with eligible entities that submit proposals to carry out biochar demonstration projects that— have the most carbon sequestration potential; will create new jobs and contribute to local economies, particularly in rural areas; will demonstrate— new and innovative uses of biochar; viable markets for cost-effective biochar-based products; the ecosystem services of biochar; or any combination of purposes specified in clauses
(i)through (iii); are located in local markets that have the greatest need for the biochar production units due to— availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks; or a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of biochar; or meet any combination of criteria specified in subparagraphs
(A)through (D). In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary may enter into partnerships and provide funding to carry out demonstration projects that— acquire and test various feedstocks and their efficacy; develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units, including mobile and permanent units; build, expand, or establish biochar facilities; conduct research on new and innovative uses of biochar or demonstrate cost-effective market opportunities for biochar and biochar-based products; carry out any other activities the Secretary determines appropriate; or meet any combination of the criteria specified in subparagraphs
(A)through (E). The Secretary shall conduct regionally specific research, including economic analyses and life-cycle assessments, on the biochar produced from the demonstration projects under this subsection, including— the effects of such biochar on— carbon capture and sequestration, including increasing soil carbon in the short term and long term; environmental remediation activities, including abandoned mine land remediation; and other ecosystem services of biochar; the efficacy of biochar as a coproduct of biofuels or in biochemicals; and whether biochar can effectively be used to produce any other technologically and commercially viable outcome. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide data, analysis, and other relevant information collected under subparagraph
(A)to eligible institutions conducting research and development activities on biochar. In the case of an eligible entity that enters into a partnership to carry out a biochar demonstration project under this subsection and seeks to establish a biochar facility under such demonstration project, the Secretary may not provide funding to such eligible entity in an amount greater than 35 percent of the capital cost of establishing such biochar facility. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that— includes policy and program recommendations to improve the widespread use of biochar; identifies the areas of research needed to advance biochar commercialization and opportunities to expand markets for biochar and create jobs, particularly in rural areas; identifies barriers to further biochar commercialization, including permitting and siting considerations; and identifies best management practices of biochar and biochar-based products to maximize— carbon sequestration benefits; applications in environmental remediation, including abandoned mine land remediation; and applications as a coproduct of biofuels or in biochemicals. Beginning 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section and annually until the date described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall include in the budget materials submitted to Congress in support of the President’s annual budget request (submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code) for each fiscal year a report on the status of the demonstration projects carried out under subsection (a). The authority to carry out this section shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this section. In this section: The term biochar means carbonized biomass produced by converting feedstock through reductive thermal processing for nonfuel uses. The term eligible entity means— State, local, and Tribal governments; eligible institutions; and private, nonprivate, or cooperative entities. The term eligible institution means land-grant colleges and universities, including institutions eligible for funding under the— Act of July 2, 1862; Act of August 30, 1890, including Tuskegee University; Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962); or Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 301 note). The term feedstock means excess biomass in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the raw material for the production of biochar. The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
U.S. Code
1 reference not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 87-788
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 308
Energy and environmental remediation demonstration project for biochar
Pub. L.Pub. L. 87-788
Cites 2Cited by 0 across 0 sources