II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3472 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 11, 2008 Mr. Feingold introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to further the adoption of technologies developed by the Department of Agriculture, to encourage small business partnerships in the development of energy through biorefineries, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Energy and Technology Advancement Act of 2008.

2.

Federal energy and forestry business assistance

Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

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Federal energy and forestry business assistance

(a)

Support for business incubators

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)

Business incubator

The term business incubator means the programs and assistance designed to accelerate the successful development of new or existing small businesses through an array of support resources and services, developed and managed by the Secretary. (B)

Department

The term Department means the Department of Agriculture. (2)

Duty of Secretary

To further the adoption of technologies developed by the Department, the Secretary shall establish criteria and procedures to facilitate and encourage businesses and other organizations— (A)to rent equipment and property owned by the Federal Government for the development of new and improved products and processes (including the production of reasonable quantities of product for sale); (B)to authorize employees of the Department and employees of the private sector to work together in experimental or production facilities owned by— (i)the Federal Government; or (ii)a private entity; (C)to provide business support services to start-up and small businesses; and (D)to enter into cooperative agreements with Indian tribes, States, counties, institutions of higher education, and other educational and governmental units to support business incubators for businesses that use technologies and products of interest to the Secretary. (b)

Establishment of biorefinery pilot plant

(1)

Duty of Secretary

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, in accordance with paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan for the development and construction of a biorefinery pilot plant. (2)

Cost estimates

The Secretary shall include in the plan described in paragraph (1) a comprehensive estimate of each cost relating to the development and construction of the biorefinery pilot plant that is the subject of the plan. (3)

Design requirements

The biorefinery pilot plant that is the subject of the plan described in paragraph (1) shall be designed to enable the plant— (A)to produce liquid fuels from woody, agricultural, and other biomass— (i)in a flexible, multi-bioproduct manner; (ii)in a sustainable manner that addresses life-cycle inputs and outputs; and (iii)in quantities sufficient— (I)to provide proof of process; and (II)to allow for business incubator and support services described in subsection (a); and (B)to employ, at a minimum, thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes in the production of liquid fuels. (c)

Funding

Of the amounts made available to the Secretary for programmatic and administrative expenditures, the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

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