§ 15855. Grants to improve the commercial value of forest biomass for electric energy, useful heat, transportation fuels, and other commercial purposes
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Biomass
The term “biomass” means nonmerchantable materials or precommercial thinnings that are byproducts of preventive treatments, such as trees, wood, brush, thinnings, chips, and slash, that are removed—
(3)
Nonmerchantable
For purposes of subsection (b), the term “nonmerchantable” means that portion of the byproducts of preventive treatments that would not otherwise be used for higher value products.
(5)
Preferred community
The term “preferred community” means—
(B)
any town, township, municipality, or other similar unit of local government (as determined by the Secretary concerned) that—
(ii)
the Secretary concerned, in the sole discretion of the Secretary concerned, determines contains or is located near Federal or Indian land, the condition of which is at significant risk of catastrophic wildfire, disease, or insect infestation or which suffers from disease or insect infestation; or
(b)
Biomass commercial use grant program
(1)
In general
The Secretary concerned may make grants to any person in a preferred community that owns or operates a facility that uses biomass as a raw material to produce electric energy, sensible heat, or transportation fuels to offset the costs incurred to purchase biomass for use by such facility.
(2)
Grant amounts
A grant under this subsection may not exceed $20 per green ton of biomass delivered.
(3)
Monitoring of grant recipient activities
As a condition of a grant under this subsection, the grant recipient shall keep such records as the Secretary concerned may require to fully and correctly disclose the use of the grant funds and all transactions involved in the purchase of biomass. Upon notice by a representative of the Secretary concerned, the grant recipient shall afford the representative reasonable access to the facility that purchases or uses biomass and an opportunity to examine the inventory and records of the facility.
(c)
Improved biomass use grant program
(1)
In general
The Secretary concerned may make grants to persons to offset the cost of projects to develop or research opportunities to improve the use of, or add value to, biomass. In making such grants, the Secretary concerned shall give preference to persons in preferred communities.
(2)
Selection
The Secretary concerned shall select a grant recipient under paragraph (1) after giving consideration to—
(A)
the anticipated public benefits of the project, including the potential to develop thermal or electric energy resources or affordable energy;
(d)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2016 to carry out this section.
(e)
Report
Not later than October 1, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Committee on Resources, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, a report describing the results of the grant programs authorized by this section. The report shall include the following:
(1)
An identification of the size, type, and use of biomass by persons that receive grants under this section.