I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2170 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2009 Mr. Fortenberry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to provide covered institutions loans for conversion to use of biomass for energy generation.

1.

Loan program for conversion to biomass energy generation

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to provide zero-interest loans to covered institutions for capital costs for converting to the use of biomass for energy generation. (b)

Use of loan funds

The Secretary shall ensure that a covered institution receiving a loan under the program established under subsection (a) will use woody biomass for not less than 75 percent of the energy generation resulting from the conversion to the use of biomass for such generation. (c)

Revolving fund

(1)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury a revolving fund for the program established under subsection (a). (2)

Use of amounts in fund

The Secretary shall use the amounts in the revolving fund established under paragraph (1) to carry out the program established under subsection (a). (3)

Deposits

The Secretary shall deposit amounts received as payment on loans provided under the program established under subsection (a) into the revolving fund established under paragraph (1). (4)

Initial deposit

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available $100,000,000 to the revolving fund established under paragraph (1). (d)

Definitions

In this section— (1)

Covered institution

The term covered institution means— (A)an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); (B)a public or private elementary or secondary school; or (C)a hospital. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.