Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007/Title II/Subtitle B

by United States Congress

Subtitle B—Biofuels Research and Development

SEC. 221. BIODIESEL.

(a) Biodiesel Study—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall submit to Congress a report on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing the proportion of diesel fuel sold in the United States that is biodiesel.

(b) Material for the Establishment of Standards—

The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Secretary, shall make publicly available the physical property data and characterization of biodiesel and other biofuels as appropriate.

SEC. 222. BIOGAS.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall submit to Congress a report on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing the amount of transportation fuels sold in the United States that are fuel with biogas or a blend of biogas and natural gas.

SEC. 223. GRANTS FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CERTAIN STATES.

(a) In General—

The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of biofuel production technologies in States with low rates of ethanol production, including low rates of production of cellulosic biomass ethanol, as determined by the Secretary.

(b) Eligibility—

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall—

(1)(A) be an institution of higher education (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), including tribally controlled colleges or universities, located in a State described in subsection (a); or

(B) be a consortium including at least 1 such institution of higher education and industry, State agencies, Indian tribal agencies, National Laboratories, or local government agencies located in the State; and

(2) have proven experience and capabilities with relevant technologies.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations—

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

SEC. 224. BIOREFINERY ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

"(g) Biorefinery Energy Efficiency— The Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption in the operation of biorefinery facilities.

"(h) Retrofit Technologies for the Development of Ethanol From Cellulosic Materials— The Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application on technologies and processes to enable biorefineries that exclusively use corn grain or corn starch as a feedstock to produce ethanol to be retrofitted to accept a range of biomass, including lignocellulosic feedstocks.'.

SEC. 225. STUDY OF OPTIMIZATION OF FLEXIBLE FUELED VEHICLES TO USE E-85 FUEL.

(a) In General—

The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall conduct a study of whether optimizing flexible fueled vehicles to operate using E-85 fuel would increase the fuel efficiency of flexible fueled vehicles.

(b) Report—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report that describes the results of the study under this section, including any recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 226. STUDY OF ENGINE DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF BIODIESEL.

(a) In General—

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall initiate a study on the effects of the use of biodiesel on the performance and durability of engines and engine systems.

(b) Components—

The study under this section shall include—

(1) an assessment of whether the use of biodiesel lessens the durability and performance of conventional diesel engines and engine systems; and

(2) an assessment of the effects referred to in subsection (a) with respect to biodiesel blends at varying concentrations, including the following percentage concentrations of biodiesel:

(A) 5 percent biodiesel.

(B) 10 percent biodiesel.

(C) 20 percent biodiesel.

(D) 30 percent biodiesel.

(E) 100 percent biodiesel.

(c) Report—

Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, a report that describes the results of the study under this section, including any recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 227. STUDY OF OPTIMIZATION OF BIOGAS USED IN NATURAL GAS VEHICLES.

(a) In General—

The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Transportation, shall conduct a study of methods of increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles using biogas by optimizing natural gas vehicle systems that can operate on biogas, including the advancement of vehicle fuel systems and the combination of hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid electric drive platforms with natural gas vehicle systems using biogas.

(b) Report—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and to the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report that describes the results of the study, including any recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 228. ALGAL BIOMASS.

(a) In General—

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, a report on the progress of the research and development that is being conducted on the use of algae as a feedstock for the production of biofuels.

(b) Contents—

The report shall identify continuing research and development challenges and any regulatory or other barriers found by the Secretary that hinder the use of this resource, as well as recommendations on how to encourage and further its development as a viable transportation fuel.

SEC. 229. BIOFUELS AND BIOREFINERY INFORMATION CENTER.

(a) In General—

The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a biofuels and biorefinery information center to make available to interested parties information on—

(1) renewable fuel feedstocks, including the varieties of fuel capable of being produced from various feedstocks;

(2) biorefinery processing techniques related to various renewable fuel feedstocks;

(3) the distribution, blending, storage, and retail dispensing infrastructure necessary for the transport and use of renewable fuels;

(4) Federal and State laws and incentives related to renewable fuel production and use;

(5) renewable fuel research and development advancements;

(6) renewable fuel development and biorefinery processes and technologies;

(7) renewable fuel resources, including information on programs and incentives for renewable fuels;

(8) renewable fuel producers;

(9) renewable fuel users; and

(10) potential renewable fuel users.

(b) Administration—

In administering the biofuels and biorefinery information center, the Secretary shall—

(1) continually update information provided by the center;

(2) make information available relating to processes and technologies for renewable fuel production;

(3) make information available to interested parties on the process for establishing a biorefinery; and

(4) make information and assistance provided by the center available through a toll-free telephone number and website.

(c) Coordination and Nonduplication—

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the activities under this section are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, centers at other government agencies.

(d) Authorization of Appropriations—

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 230. CELLULOSIC ETHANOL AND BIOFUELS RESEARCH.

(a) Definition of Eligible Entity—

In this section, the term 'eligible entity' means—

(1) an 1890 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7061));

(2) a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)) (commonly referred to as 'Historically Black Colleges and Universities');

(3) a tribal college or university (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); or

(4) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))).

(b) Grants—

The Secretary shall make cellulosic ethanol and biofuels research and development grants to 10 eligible entities selected by the Secretary to receive a grant under this section through a peer-reviewed competitive process.

(c) Collaboration—

An eligible entity that is selected to receive a grant under subsection (b) shall collaborate with 1 of the Bioenergy Research Centers of the Office of Science of the Department.

(d) Authorization of Appropriations—

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to make grants described in subsection (b) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 231. BIOENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.

Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking 'and' at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting '; and'; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

"(4) $963,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.'; and

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking '$251,000,000' and inserting '$377,000,000'; and

(ii) by striking 'and' at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3)—

(i) by striking '$274,000,000' and inserting '$398,000,000'; and

(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting '; and'; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

"(4) $419,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $150,000,000 shall be for section 932(d).'.

SEC. 232. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

(a) In General—

Section 977 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking 'and computational biology' and inserting 'computational biology, and environmental science'; and

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting 'in sustainable production systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions' after 'hydrogen';

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking 'and' at the end;

(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

"(4) develop cellulosic and other feedstocks that are less resource and land intensive and that promote sustainable use of resources, including soil, water, energy, forests, and land, and ensure protection of air, water, and soil quality; and'.

(b) Tools and Evaluation—

Section 307(d) of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 8606(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3)(E), by striking 'and' at the end;

(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

"(5) the improvement and development of analytical tools to facilitate the analysis of life-cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions related to direct and indirect land use changes, attributable to all potential biofuel feedstocks and production processes; and

"(6) the systematic evaluation of the impact of expanded biofuel production on the environment, including forest lands, and on the food supply for humans and animals.'.

(c) Small-Scale Production and Use of Biofuels—

Section 307(e) of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 8606(e)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking 'and' at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting '; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

"(4) to facilitate small-scale production, local, and on-farm use of biofuels, including the development of small-scale gasification technologies for production of biofuel from cellulosic feedstocks.'.

SEC. 233. BIOENERGY RESEARCH CENTERS.

Section 977 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317) is amended by adding at the end the following:

"(f) Bioenergy Research Centers—

"(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS— In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish at least 7 bioenergy research centers, which may be of varying size.

"(2) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION— The Secretary shall establish at least 1 bioenergy research center in each Petroleum Administration for Defense District or Subdistrict of a Petroleum Administration for Defense District.

"(3) GOALS— The goals of the centers established under this subsection shall be to accelerate basic transformational research and development of biofuels, including biological processes.

"(4) SELECTION AND DURATION—

"(A) IN GENERAL— A center under this subsection shall be selected on a competitive basis for a period of 5 years.

"(B) REAPPLICATION— After the end of the period described in subparagraph (A), a grantee may reapply for selection on a competitive basis.

"(5) INCLUSION— A center that is in existence on the date of enactment of this subsection—

"(A) shall be counted towards the requirement for establishment of at least 7 bioenergy research centers; and

"(B) may continue to receive support for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of establishment of the center.'.

SEC. 234. UNIVERSITY BASED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment—

The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program, in a geographically diverse manner, for projects submitted for consideration by institutions of higher education to conduct research and development of renewable energy technologies. Each grant made shall not exceed $2,000,000.

(b) Eligibility—

Priority shall be given to institutions of higher education with—

(1) established programs of research in renewable energy;

(2) locations that are low income or outside of an urbanized area;

(3) a joint venture with an Indian tribe; and

(4) proximity to trees dying of disease or insect infestation as a source of woody biomass.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations—

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $25,000,000 for carrying out this section.

(d) Definitions—

In this section:

(1) INDIAN TRIBE—

The term 'Indian tribe' has the meaning as defined in section 126(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

(2) RENEWABLE ENERGY—

The term 'renewable energy' has the meaning as defined in section 902 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

(3) URBANIZED AREA—

The term 'urbanized area' has the meaning as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.