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64–591
2000
H.R. 2819, BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1999 AND H.R. 2827, NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS ACT OF 1999
HEARING
Before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
of the
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
OCTOBER 28, 1999
No. 106–74
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Printed for the use of the Committee on Science
H.R. 2819, BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1999 AND H.R. 2827, NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS ACT OF 1999
64–591
2000
H.R. 2819, BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1999 AND H.R. 2827, NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS ACT OF 1999
HEARING
Before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
of the
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
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OCTOBER 28, 1999
No. 106–74
Printed for the use of the Committee on Science
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE
F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., Wisconsin, Chairman
SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT, New York
LAMAR SMITH, Texas
CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland
CURT WELDON, Pennsylvania
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
JOE BARTON, Texas
KEN CALVERT, California
NICK SMITH, Michigan
ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland
VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan
DAVE WELDON, Florida
GIL GUTKNECHT, Minnesota
THOMAS W. EWING, Illinois
CHRIS CANNON, Utah
KEVIN BRADY, Texas
MERRILL COOK, Utah
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GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR., Washington
FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma
MARK GREEN, Wisconsin
STEVEN T. KUYKENDALL, California
GARY G. MILLER, California
JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
JACK METCALF, Washington
GEORGE E. BROWN, JR., California
RALPH M. HALL, Texas
BART GORDON, Tennessee
JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois
JAMES A. BARCIA, Michigan
EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas
LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California
LYNN N. RIVERS, Michigan
ZOE LOFGREN, California
MICHAEL F. DOYLE, Pennsylvania
SHEILA JACKSON-LEE, Texas
DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan
BOB ETHERIDGE, North Carolina
NICK LAMPSON, Texas
JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut
MARK UDALL, Colorado
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DAVID WU, Oregon
ANTHONY D. WEINER, New York
MICHAEL E. CAPUANO, Massachusetts
BRIAN BAIRD, Washington
JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania
DENNIS MOORE, Kansas
C O N T E N T S
October 28, 1999—H.R. 2819, Biomass Research and Development Act of 1999 and H.R. 2827, National Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Act of 1999:
Opening Statement by Representative Ken Calvert (CA–43), Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
Opening Statement by Representative Thomas W. Ewing (IL–15), Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
Opening Statement by Representative Sherwood L. Boehlert (NY–23), Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
Opening Statement by Representative Jerry F. Costello (IL–12), Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
Opening Statement by Representative Mark Udall (CO–2), Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
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Opening Statement by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX–30), Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
Text of H.R. 2819, Biomass Research and Development Act of 1999
H.R. 2819, Section by Section Analysis
Text of H.R. 2827, National Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Act of 1999
H.R. 2827, Section by Section Analysis
Text of S. 935, as passed by Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, U.S. Senate on July 29, 1999
Senate Report 106–179, to accompany S. 935
Panel:
The Honorable Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Oral Testimony
Prepared Testimony
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Biography
The Honorable I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture; accompanied by Roger Conway, Office of Chief Economist; Don Erbach, Agricultural Research Service; and Howard Rosen, U.S. Forest Service
Oral Testimony
Prepared Testimony
Biography
Dr. Bruce Dale, Co-Chair, Committee on Bio-Based Industrial Products, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences and Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Oral Testimony
Prepared Testimony
Biography
Financial Disclosure Statement
Mr. Steve Clemmer, Senior Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Oral Testimony
Prepared Testimony
Biography
Financial Disclosure Statement
Panel Discussion:
Need for Legislation Since Executive Order 13134 Created Similar Interagency Board
Cost Competitiveness of Biomass Fuels with Traditional Fuels
Non-Energy Related Biomass Technology Opportunities
Level of Cooperation Between DOE and USDA
Full Production Cost of Corn-Based Fuel
Environmental and Health Impacts of Genetically Modified Materials
Measures to Compare Costs of Biomass Products and Petroleum Products
Net CO2 Releases from Biomass Fuel
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H.R. 2819 Limits on Funding for Demonstration Projects
Environmental Impact Concerns
Funded Research: H.R. 2819 vs. H.R. 2827
Commercial Availability of Biofuels
USDA Biofuels and Biobased Product Research Budget Issues
Funded Research: H.R. 2819 vs. H.R. 2827
Seniority Level of Board Members
National Forests as Biomass Source
Closing Remarks
Appendix 1: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Submitted by Members of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
The Honorable Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
Republican Member Questions
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Executive Order #13134 (''Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy'') and Need for Legislation
Cost of Producing Ethanol from Corn-Based Biomass
Administrative Support and Funding of Initiative
DOE Program Office That Would Implement the Initiative
Resources to Complete Current Projects
H.R. 2827 Provision That Authorizes $14 million for a Corn-Based Ethanol Research Pilot Plant
Preferred Chair(s) of the Biomass Research and Development Board
Preferred Agency to Issue Regulations
H.R. 2819 Exemption of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee from Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
Preferred Biomass Definition
Use of Genetically-Modified Crops for Biomass Production
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Cost-Competitiveness of Bioenergy Facilities
Advanced, Clean-Fueled Modular Biopower Systems
R&D Costs and Construction/Capital Costs to Commercially Produce Cellulosic Ethanol
Six Industrial Chemical R&D Projects That Have Been Selected for Funding Based on the Industry's Vision 2020 Roadmap
Coordination of Executive Order With Entities Created by Both Bills
Hynol Technology
Segregated Municipal Wastes as Biomass Feedstock to Directly Produce Electricity or to Produce Methanol
Democratic Member Questions
H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819 Research Goals
Technical Advisory Groups in H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819
Interagency Biomass R&D Boards
H.R. 2827 Requirement That Chairs of the Biomass R&D Board Be Senate Confirmed
Cost-Sharing for Biomass Demonstration Projects
DOE/USDA Biomass Collaboration/Coordination
DOE Biomass R&D Coordination with Outside Groups
DOE's Internal Coordination of Biomass-Related Efforts
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The Honorable I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Republican Member Questions
Executive Order #13134 (''Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy'') and Need for Legislation
Cost of Producing Ethanol from Corn-Based Biomass
USDA Funding for Biofuels and Biobased Products Research
Authorization for USDA Corn-Based Ethanol Pilot Plant
Administrative Support and Funding of Initiative
USDA Program Office That Would Implement the Initiative
H.R. 2827 Provision That Authorizes $14 million for a Corn-Based Ethanol Research Pilot Plant
Preferred Chair(s) of the Biomass Research and Development Board
Preferred Agency to Issue Regulations
H.R. 2819 Exemption of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee from Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
Preferred Biomass Definition
Democratic Member Questions
H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819 Research Goals
Technical Advisory Groups in H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819
Interagency Biomass R&D Boards
H.R. 2827 Requirement That Chairs of the Biomass R&D Board Be Senate Confirmed
H.R. 2819 Language Ensuring That No Unfair Advantage Would Be Given to Any Class of Grant Applicants
USDA R&D on Utilization of Forestry Waste Products and Non-merchantable Timber
USDA/DOE Biomass Collaboration/Coordination
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USDA Biomass R&D Coordination with Outside Groups
USDA's Internal Coordination of Biomass-Related Efforts
Dr. Bruce Dale, Co-Chair, Committee on Biobased Industrial Products, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences and Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Republican Member Questions
Cost of Producing Ethanol from Corn-Based Biomass
Hynol Technology
Segregated Municipal Wastes as Biomass Feedstock to Directly Produce Electricity or to Produce Methanol
Cost-Sharing for Biomass Demonstration Projects
H.R. 2827 Provision That Authorizes $14 million for a Corn-Based Ethanol Research Pilot Plant
Corn-Based Ethanol Production and Ethanol's Environmental Impacts
Preferred Chair(s) of the Biomass Research and Development Board
Democratic Member Questions
H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819 Research Goals
Technical Advisory Groups in H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819
Interagency Biomass R&D Boards
H.R. 2827 Requirement That Chairs of the Biomass R&D Board Be Senate Confirmed
Use of Genetically-Modified Crops for Biomass Production
Coordination of Federal Biomass R&D Efforts
Mr. Steve Clemmer, Senior Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Republican Member Questions
Cost of Producing Ethanol from Corn-Based Biomass
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Minimum Renewable Energy Content or Portfolio Standards
Environmental Impacts of Using Cellulosic Biomass Resources
Rationale for Stronger Emphasis on Funding Demostration Projects
Use of Biomass Derived from Municipal Waste Streams
Preferred Chair(s) of the Biomass Research and Development Board
Use of Genetically-Modified Crops for Biomass Production
Bt Corn's Impact on the Monarch Butterfly
Cost-Competitiveness of Bioenergy Facilities
Democratic Member Questions
H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819 Research Goals
Technical Advisory Groups in H.R. 2827 and H.R. 2819
Interagency Biomass R&D Boards
H.R. 2827 Requirement That Chairs of the Biomass R&D Be Senate Confirmed
Use of Genetically-Modified Crops for Biomass Production
Coordination of Federal Biomass R&D Efforts
Appendix 2: Additional Materials for the Record
Prepared Statement for the Record by Professor David Pimentel, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
''Feasibility of Large-Scale Biofuel Production'', by Mario Giampietro, Sergio Ulgiati, and David Pimentel, BioScience, pgs. 587–600, Vol. 47, No. 9, October 1997
''Energy and Dollar Costs of Ethanol Production with Corn'', by David Pimentel, Hubbert Center Newsletter, No. 98/2–1–1, April 1998
''Biobased Industrial Products: Priorities for Research and Commercialization'', by the Committee on Biobased Industrial Products, Board on Biology, Commission of Life Sciences, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., July 27, 1999
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''Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Restructuring Issues'', Fred Sissine, Resources, Science and Industry Division, Congressional Research Service, Issue Brief for Congress, October 6, 1999
Press Release, ''President Clinton and Vice President Gore: Growing Clean Energy for the 21st Century'', Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, August 12, 1999
Press Release, ''The President's New Executive Order on Bio-based Products and Bioenergy'', Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, August 12, 1999
Press Briefing by EPA Administrator Carol Browner; DOE Assistant Secretary for Renewable & Energy Efficiency Dan Reicher; USDA Deputy Chief Economist Joseph Glauber; and Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Issues, Roger Ballentine, The Briefing Room, The White House, August 12, 1999
Executive Order 13134, ''Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy'', Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, August 12, 1999
Memorandum for the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, The Secretary of the Treasury, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, August 12, 1999
Press Release, ''President's Committee on Science and Technology Finds Soaring Worldwide Energy Demand 'Potentially Disastrous' Unless U.S. Makes Clean Technology and Efficiency Investments'', Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House, August 19, 1999
''Powerful Partnerships: A Synthesis of a Report by the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology'', Executive Office of the President, August 1999
''Powerful Partnerships: The Federal Role in International Cooperation on Energy Innovation'', A Report from the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, Panel on International Cooperation in Energy Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment'', Executive Office of the President, Chapter 5—Energy Supply Technologies, June 1999
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Letter of Transmittal from John H. Gibbons, Co-Chairman, President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology to President William J. Clinton, accompanying Report to the President on Federal Energy Research and Development for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century, November 4, 1997
''Report to the President on Federal Energy Research and Development for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century'', President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, Panel on Energy Research and Development, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Chapter 6—Renewable Energy, November 1997
''DOE's Bioenergy Initiative'', Online Posting, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN), pages 1, 2, and 10, U.S. Department of Energy, Nov. 24, 1999, http://www.eren.doe.gov/bioenergy_initiative
Reicher, Dan, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, ''A Vision for Bioenergy: Growing an Integrated Industry'', October 1998
Reicher, Dan, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, ''Growing an Industry: Overview of Doe's Bioenergy Activities and Proposed Plan of Action'', DOE, Bioenergy Executive Forum, November 18, 1999
''Bioenergy—Growing an Integrated Industry'', U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
''Better 'Bugs' Lead to Cheaper Ethanol from Biomass'', Online Posting, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, November 10, 1999, http://www.nrel.gov/hot-stuff/press/5799bugs.html
Fialka, John. ''The New Alchemy: Turning Garbage into Fuel.'' The Wall Street Journal. November 2, 1999
Weiss, Rick. ''Gene-Altered Corn's Impact Reassessed.'' The Washington Post. November 3, 1999: A3.
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''Biofuels Research Program'', Online Posting, Agricultural Research Service, pages 1 to 8, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/bionew.htl
''Research Emphases'', Online Posting, pages 1 to 2, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/resemph.htl
''Ethanol for Fuel From Agricultural Raw Materials'', Online Posting, page 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/bioeth.htl
''Research Locations'', Online Posting, page 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/regional.htl
''Biodiesel From American Farms Research Locations'', Online Posting, page 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/regdies.htl
''Biodiesel from American Farms Current Projects'', Online Posting, page 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/regdies.htl
''Ethanol for Fuel From Agricultural Raw Materials Current Research Projects'', Online Posting, page 1, U.S. Department of Agriculture, November 16, 1999, http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/biofuels/current.htl
''PLANT/CROP-BASED RENEWABLE RESOURCES 2020 A Vision to Enhance U.S. Economic Security Through Renewable Plant/Crop-Based Resource Use'', pages 1 to 24, DOE/GO–10097–385, January 1998, U.S. Department of Energy, also found at http://www.oit.doe.gov/tools.shtml
''THE TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR PLANT/CROP-BASED RENEWABLE RESOURCES 2020 Research Priorities for Fulfilling A Vision to Enhance U.S. Economic Security Through Renewable Plant/Crop-Based Use'', pages 1 to 41, DOE/GO–10099–706, February 1999, U.S. Department of Energy, also found at http://www.oit.doe.gov/tools.shtml
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''Agenda 2020: A Compact for the Forest Products Industry'', Online Posting, page 1 to 2, U.S. Department of Energy, November 21, 1999, http://www.oit.doe.gov/forest/forest_compact.shtml
''Forest Products Building a Sustainable Technology Advantage for America's Forest Products Industry'', pages 1 to 7, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Office of Industrial Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy, February 1999
''Agenda 2020: A Technology Vision and Research Agenda for America's Forest, Wood and Paper Industry'', Online Posting, pages 1 to 4, American Forest & Paper Association, October 21, 1999, http://www.afandpa.org/Environmental/Agenda2020/
''Agenda 2020: The Path Forward and Implementation Plan'', pages 1 to 31, American Forest & Paper Association, 1999
''Forest Products Research Pathways'', Online Posting, pages 1 to 2, Office of Industrial Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy, November 23, 1999, http://www.oit.doe.gov/forest/path_table.shtml
''Sustainable Forestry Pathways Agenda 2020'', Online Posting, slides 1 to 32, Office of Industrial Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy, November 23, 1999, http://www.oit.doe.gov/forest/pathways/sld001.htm
''Renewable Energy Annual 1998 With Data For 1997'', DOE/EIA–0603(98)/1 Distribution Category UC–950, December 1998, Energy Information Administration, Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels, U.S. Department of Energy
Joseph DiPardo, ''Outlook for Biomass Development and Demand'', Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, April 26, 2000, http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biomass.html
Letter from James E. Hubbard, State Forester, Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, October 14, 1999 to Representative Mark Udall, Member, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives
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''Front Range Forest Health Partnership's Phase I Feasibility Study'', January 1998, NREL/SR–580–23805, prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. DE–AC36–83CH10093
Required information from the Honorable Dan Reicher, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy by Representative Mark Udall, p. 220
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