NASULGC's Farm Bill Provisions

476. Biomass
Research and Development

Summary

Amends the program to require the Secretary of
Agriculture to work to achieve better coordination between USDA biomass
research and development programs and the Department of Energy’s
renewable energy programs, and to use competitively selected research centers
at land grant colleges and universities to assist in carrying out the
program.

Legislative
Language

SEC. 476. BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

(a) Enhanced
Coordination.--Section 304 of the Biomass Research and Development Act of
2000 (7 U.S.C. 8603) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Enhanced
Coordination.—The Secretary shall direct the point of contact of the
Department of Agriculture to work to achieve better coordination between
programs under this title and the Department of Energy’s renewable
energy programs.”.

(b) Use of Research Centers.--
Section 307 of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C.
8606) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(h)
Use of Research Centers.—

“(1) In General.--The
Secretary shall use the services and facilities of research centers at land
grant colleges and universities, as defined in section 9011(b) of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8109(b)), to assist in
carrying out this section.

“(2) Competitive
Selection.—The Secretary shall publish and follow competitive criteria
to be used for the selection of research centers under this
subsection.”.