{ "id": "R40529", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R40529", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 601479, "date": "2019-06-27", "retrieved": "2019-12-20T17:40:24.587598", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation", "summary": "The use of biomass as an energy feedstock has regularly been presented as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, and rural economic development, and as a tool to possibly help improve the environment (e.g., through greenhouse gas emission reduction). Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) includes food crops, crops grown specifically to produce energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. Biomass may be used to produce heat, electricity, or liquid transportation fuel. Efforts to promote the use of biomass for liquid transportation fuels have focused on corn primarily. Efforts to promote the use of biomass for power generation have focused on wood, wood residues, and milling waste primarily. Comparatively less emphasis has been placed on the use of other biomass feedstocks\u2014noncorn food crops, nonfood crops, crop residues, animal manure, and more\u2014as renewable energy sources for liquid fuel use or for power generation. This is partly due to the variety, lack of supply, and dispersed location of noncorn-based biomass feedstock. The technology development status and costs to convert noncorn-based biomass into energy are also viewed by some as obstacles to rapid adoption or deployment. \nTo aid in understanding the role of biomass as an energy resource, this report examines the characterization of biomass in legislation. For over 40 years, the term biomass has been used in legislation enacted by Congress for various programs. Biomass-related legislation has provided financial incentives to develop technologies that use biomass. How biomass is defined influences decisions about the type of biomass that is grown, where it is grown, and potential preferred energy uses, among other things. There have been 14 biomass definitions included in legislation\u2014including tax legislation\u2014since 2004. \nFuture policy discussions about both energy\u2014particularly legislation involving the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and energy tax incentives\u2014and the environment may prompt further discussion about the definition of biomass. For example, one point of contention regarding the biomass definition and the RFS is whether the term should be defined to include a larger quantity of biomass from federal lands. Some argue that removal of biomass from these lands may lead to ecological harm. Others contend that biomass from federal lands can aid the production of renewable energy to meet certain mandates (e.g., the RFS) and that the removal of biomass can enhance forest restoration or protection from wildfires, insects, or diseases. \nBills have been introduced\u2014in the current Congress and previous Congresses\u2014that would modify the biomass definition, indicating some interest in expanding or refining its use. For example, S. 1614 would expand the renewable biomass definition for the RFS to include more biomass material from federal lands. Bills that would modify the biomass definition were also introduced in the 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses. This report lists biomass definitions enacted by Congress in legislation since 2004, and discusses the similarities and differences among the definitions.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40529", "sha1": "433a2db60c0a5c555978df8dd9989f0680e7cc33", "filename": "files/20190627_R40529_433a2db60c0a5c555978df8dd9989f0680e7cc33.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40529", "sha1": "287dd66ea59a4fddd99a494c5163a76a2a9fe0c7", "filename": "files/20190627_R40529_287dd66ea59a4fddd99a494c5163a76a2a9fe0c7.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4927, "name": "Renewable Energy & Efficiency" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 436931, "date": "2015-01-06", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:43:27.564519", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation", "summary": "The use of biomass as an energy feedstock has regularly been presented as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, and rural economic development, and as a tool to possibly help improve the environment (e.g., through greenhouse gas emission reduction). Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops grown specifically to produce energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. Most legislation involving biomass has focused on encouraging the production of liquid fuels from corn. Efforts to promote the use of biomass for power generation have focused on wood, wood residues, and milling waste. Comparatively less emphasis has been placed on the use of non-corn-based biomass feedstocks\u2014other food crops, non-food crops, crop residues, animal manure, and more\u2014as renewable energy sources for liquid fuel use or for power generation. This is partly due to the variety, lack of availability, and dispersed location of non-corn-based biomass feedstock. The technology development status and costs to convert non-corn-based biomass into energy are also viewed by some as obstacles to rapid technology deployment. \nTo aid in understanding the role of biomass as an energy resource, this report investigates the characterization of biomass in legislation. For over 30 years, the term biomass has been a part of legislation enacted by Congress for various programs, indicating some interest by the general public and policy makers in expanding its use. Biomass-related legislation has provided financial incentives to develop technologies that use biomass. How biomass is defined influences decisions about the types of crops that are grown, where they are grown, and potential preferred energy uses, among other things. There have been 14 biomass definitions included in legislation and in the tax code since 2004. \nFuture discussions about energy\u2014particularly legislation involving the Renewable Fuel Standard, energy tax incentives, or tribal biomass demonstration projects\u2014may prompt further discussion about the definition of biomass. For example, one point of contention regarding the biomass definition and the Renewable Fuel Standard is whether the term should be defined to include biomass from federal lands. Some argue that removal of biomass from these lands may lead to ecological harm. Others contend that biomass from federal lands can aid the production of renewable energy to meet certain mandates (e.g., the Renewable Fuel Standard) and that removal of biomass can enhance forest protection from wildfires. \nBills introduced in the 113th Congress (e.g., H.R. 4426, H.R. 4956, H.R. 3084, S. 1267) would have modified the biomass definition. However, little legislative action occurred regarding the definition of biomass in the 113th Congress. This report lists biomass definitions enacted by Congress in legislation and the tax code since 2004, and discusses the similarities and differences among the definitions.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40529", "sha1": "34ed69eec06759ec4b5cc845c54960aa9ee5311f", "filename": "files/20150106_R40529_34ed69eec06759ec4b5cc845c54960aa9ee5311f.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40529", "sha1": "d721326f9608afde1fba81747eaf1033d6e74068", "filename": "files/20150106_R40529_d721326f9608afde1fba81747eaf1033d6e74068.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3382, "name": "Agriculture-Based Biofuels" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc271997/", "id": "R40529_2013Nov26", "date": "2013-11-26", "retrieved": "2014-02-03T19:46:03", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation", "summary": "This report discusses the use of biomass, its legislative history, and the proposed redefinition of biomass in legislation.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131126_R40529_099ca1baa47500c51ed4c5c8167a89e5f4864103.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131126_R40529_099ca1baa47500c51ed4c5c8167a89e5f4864103.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc227642/", "id": "R40529_2012Nov14", "date": "2012-11-14", "retrieved": "2013-11-05T18:07:05", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 112th Congress", "summary": "Report discussing the use of biomass, its legislative history, and the proposed redefinition of biomass in legislation.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20121114_R40529_689bfcfa21500c169dbc8dc84656abbb83cc755d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20121114_R40529_689bfcfa21500c169dbc8dc84656abbb83cc755d.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc86549/", "id": "R40529_2012Mar07", "date": "2012-03-07", "retrieved": "2012-06-15T10:07:48", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress", "summary": "The use of biomass as an energy feedstock is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy, crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. Most legislation involving biomass has focused on encouraging the production of liquid fuels from corn. For over 30 years, the term biomass has been a part of legislation enacted by Congress for various programs, indicating some interest by the general public and policymakers in expanding its use. To aid understanding of why U.S. consumers, utility groups, refinery managers, and others have not fully adopted biomass as an energy resource, this report investigates the characterization of biomass in legislation.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120307_R40529_ced405cc903dc0e6b6a808ecf0c9ae390e986036.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120307_R40529_ced405cc903dc0e6b6a808ecf0c9ae390e986036.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Refuse as fuel", "name": "Refuse as fuel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy crops", "name": "Energy crops" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture", "name": "Agriculture" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy law and legislation", "name": "Energy law and legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc490972/", "id": "R40529_2011Jan06", "date": "2011-01-06", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress", "summary": "This report discusses the use of biomass as an energy feedstock, which is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. This report discusses legislation regarding biomass, the evolving definition of biomass, and the positions of supporters and detractors of biomass as an alternative energy source.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110106_R40529_4e2275ef54904e0aab9147bde5d691e02e54d0a5.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110106_R40529_4e2275ef54904e0aab9147bde5d691e02e54d0a5.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Refuse as fuel", "name": "Refuse as fuel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy crops", "name": "Energy crops" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture", "name": "Agriculture" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy law and legislation", "name": "Energy law and legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29569/", "id": "R40529_2010Oct28", "date": "2010-10-28", "retrieved": "2010-12-04T14:26:25", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress", "summary": "This report discusses the use of biomass as an energy feedstock, which is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. This report discusses legislation regarding biomass, the evolving definition of biomass, and the positions of supporters and detractors of biomass as an alternative energy source.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101028_R40529_693cc5b75f2af3b5f7277f85d475456c5a7e2d28.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101028_R40529_693cc5b75f2af3b5f7277f85d475456c5a7e2d28.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Biomass energy", "name": "Biomass energy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Alternative energy sources", "name": "Alternative energy sources" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Refuse as fuel", "name": "Refuse as fuel" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy crops", "name": "Energy crops" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture", "name": "Agriculture" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy law and legislation", "name": "Energy law and legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818748/", "id": "R40529_2010Feb02", "date": "2010-02-02", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100202_R40529_a78879ce87a832a564720c3f3278f751d0ba1e1a.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100202_R40529_a78879ce87a832a564720c3f3278f751d0ba1e1a.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Energy Policy" ] }