[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2773 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                 Union Calendar No. 189
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2773

                          [Report No. 110-302]

    To enhance research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
 application of biofuels related technologies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2007

 Mr. Lampson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on Science and Technology

                             August 3, 2007

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 
                               19, 2007]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To enhance research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
 application of biofuels related technologies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Biofuels Research and Development 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. BIOFUELS AND BIOREFINERY INFORMATION CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (in this Act referred to 
as the ``Secretary''), in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, shall establish a technology transfer center to make 
available information on research, development, and commercial 
application of technologies related to biofuels and biorefineries, 
including--
            (1) biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies 
        capable of making fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks;
            (2) biotechnology processes capable of making biofuels with 
        an emphasis on development of biorefinery technologies using 
        enzyme-based processing systems;
            (3) biogas collection and production technologies suitable 
        for vehicular use;
            (4) cost-effective reforming technologies that produce 
        hydrogen fuel from biogas sources;
            (5) biogas production from cellulosic and recycled organic 
        waste sources and advancement of gaseous storage systems and 
        advancement of gaseous storage systems; and
            (6) other advanced processes and technologies that will 
        enable the development of biofuels.
    (b) Administration.--In administering this section, the Secretary 
shall ensure that the center shall--
            (1) continually update information provided by the center;
            (2) make information available on biotechnology processes; 
        and
            (3) make information and assistance provided by the center 
        available for those involved in energy research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application.

SEC. 3. BIOFUELS AND ADVANCED BIOFUELS INFRASTRUCTURE.

    Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Biofuels and Advanced Biofuels Infrastructure.--The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out a program of research, 
development, and demonstration as it relates to existing transportation 
fuel distribution infrastructure and new alternative distribution 
infrastructure. The program shall focus on the physical and chemical 
properties of biofuels and efforts to prevent or mitigate against 
adverse impacts of those properties in the following areas:
            ``(1) Corrosion of metal, plastic, rubber, cork, 
        fiberglass, glues, or any other material used in pipes and 
        storage tanks.
            ``(2) Dissolving of storage tank sediments.
            ``(3) Clogging of filters.
            ``(4) Contamination from water or other adulterants or 
        pollutants.
            ``(5) Poor flow properties related to low temperatures.
            ``(6) Oxidative and thermal instability in long-term 
        storage and use.
            ``(7) Microbial contamination.
            ``(8) Problems associated with electrical conductivity.
            ``(9) Such other areas as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.''.

SEC. 4. BIODIESEL.

    (a) Biodiesel Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing to 
2.5 percent the proportion of diesel fuel sold in the United States 
that is biodiesel (within the meaning of section 211(o) of the Clean 
Air Act).
    (b) Materials for the Establishment of Standards.--The Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall make publicly 
available the physical property data and characterization of biodiesel, 
as is defined in subsection (a), in order to encourage the 
establishment of standards that will promote their utilization in the 
transportation and fuel delivery system.

SEC. 5. BIOGAS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on any research and 
development challenges inherent in increasing to 5 percent of the 
transportation fuels sold in the United States fuel with biogas or a 
blend of biogas and natural gas.

SEC. 6. BIORESEARCH CENTERS FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY PROGRAM.

    Section 977(a)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16317(a)(1)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ``, including the establishment of at least 5 bioresearch 
centers of varying sizes, as appropriate, that focus on biofuels, of 
which at least 1 center shall be located in each of the 5 Petroleum 
Administration for Defense Districts, which shall be established for a 
period of 5 years, after which the grantee may reapply for selection on 
a competitive basis''.

SEC. 7. 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)) 
        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. 8. BIOREFINERY ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

    Section 932 of 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. 9. STUDY OF INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF ETHANOL-BLENDED GASOLINE WITH 
              HIGHER LEVELS OF ETHANOL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary 
of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and the Secretary of Transportation, shall conduct a study of 
the methods of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-
blended gasoline with levels of ethanol that are not less than 10 
percent and not more than 40 percent.
    (b) Study.--The study under subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) a review of production and infrastructure constraints 
        on increasing consumption of ethanol;
            (2) an evaluation of the environmental consequences of the 
        ethanol blends described in subsection (a) on evaporative and 
        exhaust emissions from on-road, off-road, and marine vehicle 
        engines;
            (3) an evaluation of the consequences of the ethanol blends 
        described in subsection (a) on the operation, durability, and 
        performance of on-road, off-road, and marine vehicle engines; 
        and
            (4) an evaluation of the life cycle impact of the use of 
        the ethanol blends described in subsection (a) on carbon 
        dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing 
the results of the study conducted under this section.

SEC. 10. STUDY OF OPTIMIZATION OF FLEXIBLE FUELED VEHICLES TO USE E-85 
              FUEL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Transportation, 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 of the House of Representatives the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes the results of 
the study under this section, including any recommendations of the 
Secretary.

SEC. 11. 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 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 of the House of Representatives the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes the results of 
the study under this section, including any recommendations of the 
Secretary.

SEC. 12. BIOENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZATION OF 
              APPROPRIATION.

    (a) Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) at the end of paragraph (2) by striking 
                ``and'';
                    (B) at the end of paragraph (3) by striking the 
                period and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) $963,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$251,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$377,000,000'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$274,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$398,000,000''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) $419,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which 
        $150,000,00 shall be for section 932(d).''.

SEC. 13. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Amendments.--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) at the end of paragraph (3), by striking 
                ``and'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph 
                (5); and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(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.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary 
of Agriculture, shall establish a research and development program to--
            (1) improve and develop 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
            (2) promote the systematic evaluation of the impact of 
        expanded biofuel production on the environment, including 
        forestlands, and on the food supply for humans and animals.
    (c) Small-Scale Production and Use of Biofuels.--The Secretary, in 
cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a 
research and development program 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. 14. STUDY OF OPTIMIZATION OF BIOGAS USED IN NATURAL GAS VEHICLES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy 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 of Energy shall submit to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science 
and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that describes 
the results of the study, including any recommendations of the 
Secretary.

SEC. 15. STANDARDS FOR BIOFUELS DISPENSERS.

    In the absence of appropriate private sector standards adopted 
prior to the date of enactment of this Act, and consistent with the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, the Secretary 
of Energy, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, shall develop standards for biofuel 
dispenser systems in order to promote broader biofuels adoption and 
utilization.

SEC. 16. ALGAL BIOMASS.

    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. 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.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 189

110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2773

                          [Report No. 110-302]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To enhance research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
 application of biofuels related technologies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             August 3, 2007

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed