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S 1294 114th Congress Senate Energy Alternative and renewable resources Climate change and greenhouse gases Coal Electric power generation and transmission Energy efficiency and conservation Energy research Environmental technology Forests, forestry, trees Government lending and loan guarantees Lighting and heating Lighting, heating, cooling Research administration and funding Research and development

Bioenergy Act of 2015

Introduced: May 12, 2015 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 19, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-118.
May 12, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2796; text of measure as introduced: CR S2796-2797)
May 12, 2015
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Bioenergy Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a working group known as the Bioheat and Biopower Initiative to: coordinate research and development relating to biopower and bioheat projects, provide recommendations to USDA and DOE regarding the implementation of this bill, and ensure that grants are awarded using an open and competitive process.

Bioheat is the use of woody biomass to generate heat, and biopower is the use of woody biomass to generate electricity.

DOE must establish: (1) a grant program for projects to support innovation and market development in bioheat and biopower, and (2) working groups to share best practices and collaborate in project implementation.

The Forest Service must establish a grant program to support commercially demonstrated thermally led wood energy technologies. Priority is given to projects proposed by State Wood Energy Teams, which are groups of stakeholders that identify sustainable energy applications for woody biomass.

The bill requires USDA to establish a loan program to support construction of thermally led residential, commercial or institutional, and industrial wood energy systems. The bill also makes these projects eligible for loans under USDA's energy efficiency and conservation loan program.

DOE and the Forest Service must establish a bioheat and biopower research program to advance research on the costs and benefits, recommend policies and investments, assess the feasibility of thermally led district wood energy opportunities, and assist communities pursuing thermally led wood energy opportunities.

What's happening now May 19, 2015

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-118.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1