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Biochar goes to Washington
News Type: Event — Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:46 PM EDTpolitics, congress, senate, biochariconoclasm
S.1713
Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration (WECHAR) Act of 2009 (Introduced in Senate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S 1713 IS
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1713
To establish loan guarantee programs to develop biochar technology using excess plant biomass, to establish biochar demonstration projects on public land, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 24, 2009
Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. HATCH, Mr. TESTER, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BILL
To establish loan guarantee programs to develop biochar technology using excess plant biomass, to establish biochar demonstration projects on public land, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration (WECHAR) Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- Congress finds that--
(1) numerous expert reports have brought attention to the negative impacts caused by invasive weed species, including the consumption of water in areas with diminishing supplies;
(2) salt cedar, or Tamarix species, a noxious and invasive plant commonly found on public land can consume 200 gallons of water per plant each day;
(3) salt cedar now covers as much as 1,000,000 acres of floodplains, riparian acres, wetland, and lake margins in the Western United States;
(4) minimizing the impact of and eradicating invasive species that wrest water from delicate watersheds is in the best interest of the United States;
(5) as drought conditions worsen and legal requirements relating to water supply accelerate water shortages, innovative approaches are needed to address the increasing demand for water;
(6) pine bark beetle has killed thousands of acres of standing forests in the Western United States, creating a hazardous buildup of dead tree biomass that is a serious fire threat to those and surrounding areas;
(7) biochar technology would result in a more cost-effective, environmentally beneficial, and successful approach to combating invasive weeds and removing excess biomass and plant waste from public land;
(8) invasive weeds and excess biomass on public land can serve as feedstock for biochar and alternative fuel production;
(9) it is in the best interest of the United States to conduct a comprehensive and thorough research, development, and demonstration program on biochar and related bioenergy so as to better understand how to use excess biomass available on public land; and
(10) biochar production and use systems have been shown to have many ancillary beneficial environmental impacts.
(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to restore the natural hydrology of Western landscapes by removing water-intensive invasive plant species;
(2) to reduce dangerous forest and rangeland fuel loads;
(3) to develop technologies to convert undesirable invasive plant species to useful materials;
(4) to develop markets for those materials; and
(5) to provide technologies to land managers to continue those processes into the future.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BIOCHAR- The term `biochar' means charcoal or black carbon derived from organic matter through pyrolysis.
(2) BIOENERGY- The term `bioenergy' means hydrocarbons derived from organic matter through pyrolysis, including bio-oil, syngas, or thermal energy.
(3) EXCESS BIOMASS-
(A) IN GENERAL- The term `excess biomass' means any plant matter targeted for removal from public land to promote ecosystem health.
(B) INCLUSIONS- The term `excess biomass' includes--
(i) trees or tree waste on public land;
(ii) wood and wood wastes and residues; and
(iii) weedy plants and grasses (including aquatic, noxious, or invasive plants).
(4) FEEDSTOCK- The term `feedstock' means excess biomass in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the raw material for the production of biochar and bioenergy.
(5) INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES- The term `invasive plant species' means a species--
(A) that is nonnative to a specified ecosystem; and
(B) the introduction to an ecosystem of which causes, or may cause, harm to--
(i) the economy;
(ii) the environment;
(iii) water resources; or
(iv) human, animal, or plant health.
(6) SECRETARY CONCERNED- The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.
SEC. 4. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General- The Director of the United States Geological Survey shall conduct resources assessments that collect and synthesize interagency and State data to quantify--
(1) invasive plant species and excess biomass in the form of dangerous fuel loads on public land that can be used for feedstock;
(2) estimated carbon content in that feedstock;
(3) estimated potential biochar and bioenergy producible from that feedstock; and
(4) potential water savings resulting from removal of invasive plant species and excess biomass on public land, by watershed.
(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, the Director of United States Geological Survey shall submit to Congress a report that describes the results of each resource assessment conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.
(a) Development of Mobile Biochar Production Units- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions--
(1) to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units that--
(A) are designed to use woody invasive plant species and excess biomass feedstock such as tamarisk, pinyon pine, and juniper;
(B) produce net negative carbon emissions relative to natural decomposition;
(C) are self-contained on a portable platform suitable for deployment to remote locations and on unpaved roads; and
(D) can capture biochar and bioenergy produced for immediate energy needs or transport to market; and
(2) to produce, not later than 2 years after the date of securing a guaranteed loan under this section for the purposes described in section 7(a)(2), 4 biochar production units for deployment to remote landscapes, of which--
(A) 2 shall be dedicated primarily to contract work with the Bureau of Land Management; and
(B) 2 shall be dedicated primarily to contract work with the National Park Service.
(b) Development of Fixed Biochar Production Units- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions--
(1) to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units that--
(A) while not necessarily self contained, can be disassembled, moved, and reassembled to be operational on a new site within 30 days, so as to support fuels reduction work;
(B) are designed to use excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations;
(C) produce net negative carbon emissions relative to natural decomposition;
(D) can capture biochar and bioenergy produced for immediate energy needs or transport to market; and
(2) to produce, not later than 2 years after the date of securing a guaranteed loan under this section for the purposes described in section 7(a)(3), 2 biochar production units for deployment to remote landscapes.
(c) Guaranteed Loan Program-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary concerned may provide loan guarantees under this section to an applicant if the biochar production units produced by the applicant will be dedicated primarily to contract restoration work with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or Forest Service, using--
(A) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(B) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(C) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
(2) CRITERIA- In selecting recipients of loan guarantees from among applicants, the Secretary concerned shall give preference to proposals that, as determined by the Secretary concerned--
(A) meet all applicable Federal and State permitting requirements;
(B) are most likely to be successful; and
(C) are located in local markets that have the greatest need for the biochar production units due to--
(i) identified high-priority landscape restoration needs;
(ii) availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks described in subsection (b); or
(iii) a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of the biochar production units.
(3) MATURITY- A loan guaranteed under this section shall have a maturity of not more than 20 years.
(4) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- The loan agreement for a loan guaranteed under this section shall provide that no provision of the loan agreement may be amended or waived without the consent of the Secretary.
(5) GUARANTEE FEE- The recipient of a loan guarantee under this section shall pay to the Secretary concerned a guarantee fee in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned to be sufficient to cover the administrative costs of the Secretary concerned relating to the loan guarantee.
(6) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT-
(A) IN GENERAL- The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees made by the Secretary concerned under this section.
(B) EVIDENCE- Any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for the guarantee with respect to principal and interest.
(C) VALIDITY- The validity of any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaranteed loan.
(7) ANNUAL REPORTS- Until the date on which each guaranteed loan under this section has been repaid in full, each year the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Secretary concerned under this section during the preceding year.
SEC. 6. EXISTING TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions for the construction or acquisition of facilities for the production of biochar.
(b) Requirement- The Secretary concerned may provide a loan guarantee under this section to an applicant if facilities constructed or acquired by the applicant will be dedicated primarily to contract restoration work with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or Forest Service, using--
(1) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(2) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(3) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
(c) Criteria- In selecting recipients of loan guarantees from among applicants, the Secretary concerned shall give preference to proposals that, as determined by the Secretary concerned--
(1) meet all applicable Federal and State permitting requirements;
(2) are most likely to be successful; and
(3) are located in local markets that have the greatest need for the facility due to--
(A) identified high-priority landscape restoration needs;
(B) availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks described in subsection (b); or
(C) a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of the facility.
(d) Maturity- A loan guaranteed under this section shall have a maturity of not more than 20 years.
(e) Terms and Conditions- The loan agreement for a loan guaranteed under this section shall provide that no provision of the loan agreement may be amended or waived without the consent of the Secretary concerned.
(f) Guarantee Fee- The recipient of a loan guarantee under this section shall pay the Secretary concerned a guarantee fee in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned to be sufficient to cover the administrative costs of the Secretary concerned relating to the loan guarantee.
(g) Full Faith and Credit-
(1) IN GENERAL- The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees made by the Secretary concerned under this section.
(2) EVIDENCE- Any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for the guarantee with respect to principal and interest.
(3) VALIDITY- The validity of any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaranteed loan.
(h) Annual Reports- Until the date on which each guaranteed loan under this section has been repaid in full, each year the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Secretary concerned under this section during the preceding year.
SEC. 7. DEPLOYMENT.
(a) New Technology-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall initiate 3-year programs to employ the biochar production units provided under section 5 in pilot applications in various climates and ecosystems of the United States.
(2) MOBILE UNITS- In the case of biochar production units developed or optimized under section 5(a)--
(A) the Director of the National Park Service shall carry out initial programs using invasive tamarisk in the Mojave Desert as feedstock; and
(B) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall carry out initial programs using excess pinyon pine and juniper biomass in the Great Basin as feedstock.
(3) FIXED UNITS- In the case of biochar production units developed or optimized under section 5(b), the Chief of the Forest Service shall carry out the initial program using bark beetle-killed trees in the Intermountain West.
(b) Existing Technology-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare plans for carrying out 3-year landscape restoration programs in various climates and ecosystems of the United States to employ facilities constructed or acquired under section 6.
(2) REQUIREMENTS- In carrying out the landscape restoration programs described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out programs using invasive tamarisk in the Mojave Desert, excess pinyon pine and juniper biomass in the Great Basin, and bark beetle-killed trees in the Intermountain West.
SEC. 8. APPLICATION AND MARKET RESEARCH.
(a) Attributes- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis that identifies--
(1) attributes and composition profiles of biochar produced from different feedstocks for use as soil amendments; and
(2) attributes and composition profiles of bioenergy produced from different feedstocks for use as fuel for transportation, heating, or other uses identified in subsection (b)(1).
(b) Market Development- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, and the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis that--
(1) identifies potential uses and markets for biochar and bioenergy; and
(2) in the case of economic and life-cycle issues, analyzes--
(A) the full production costs versus the economic benefits of biochar production systems;
(B) the impact of the production and use of biochar, including the performance of biochar in carbon sequestration programs; and
(C) the availability of feedstocks and the efficiency of using those feedstock for biochar production as compared to other biofuel-production systems.
(c) Environmental Review- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis relating to--
(1) the environmental benefits of biochar production and use, including--
(A) the water savings resulting from reducing populations of invasive or noxious plant species;
(B) the potential of biochar production systems--
(i) to reduce fertilizer use, nutrient leaching, and run-off; and
(ii) to reduce water pollution from feedlot runoff by capturing ammonia; and
(C) the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production and use of related bioenergy;
(2) the potential environmental impacts of biochar and bioenergy use, including--
(A) the potential toxicity and other adverse ecosystem effects resulting from biochar production or use of different biochars, as identified under subsection (a)(1);
(B) the characterization of combustion products of bioenergy, as identified under subsection (a)(2), and the effects of those combustion products on air and water quality; and
(C) impacts on human health and safety.
(d) Development of Biochar in Landscape Restoration- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, shall provide competitive grants to research and analyze--
(1) the potential uses of biochar in landscape restoration in different ecosystems and soil types;
(2) the relative benefits and potential adverse effects of use of different biochars, as identified under subsection (a)(1) in different western ecosystems and soil types; and
(3) the safety and efficacy of different methods of application.
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iconoclasm's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Alternative Energy - Greenvine, Biochar, Liberal Libertarians, Living with Less, Open Minded
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Senators introduce biochar technology bill Biomass Magazine Tue Sep 29 4
Public Discussion (11)Biochar (1)Living with Less (1)Alternative Energy - Greenvine (1)Open Minded (1)Liberal Libertarians (1)What's this? Who's leading the conversation? This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation. 6.6 {"commentId":9783019,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmYes, I pasted the entire bill in but since it easily readable and says more than I could about what it going on, why not?
Biochar has arrived. Any questions?
{"commentId":9783019,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}1 vote#1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:47 PM EDT{"commentId":9783577,"authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}BriwnysThis is wonderful, Iconoclasm! I hope this garners the support it deserves!
{"commentId":9783577,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}2 votes#2 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:29 PM EDT{"commentId":9783612,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmThanks :)
{"commentId":9783612,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}1 vote#2.1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:32 PM EDT{"commentId":9783907,"authorDomain":"shub"}Shub Tnediserp RemrofCan you sum it up my brain hurts with all that type above.
{"commentId":9783907,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"shub"}1 vote#3 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:51 PM EDT{"commentId":9783941,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmTake weeds, char them, put them in the soil, save water, make energy, store carbon.
Performed as loan guarantees/demostration projects.
{"commentId":9783941,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#3.1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:54 PM EDT{"commentId":9784932,"authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}nonStitiousZealotIt sounds like the focus is on these species :
salt cedar
(A) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(B) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(C) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
I wonder if they have developed maps of the affected regions .
Are those cool micrographic photos of biochar ?
Who are the loans actually going to ?
Can you suggest ways we can contact our Senators to
encourage passage ? This is too good an idea to drop .
{"commentId":9784932,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}2 votes#3.2 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:23 AM EDT{"commentId":9785126,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmAre those cool micrographic photos of biochar ?
Yes. The last two are rubber tree char. I figured a little entertainment with the long text would be good.
It sounds like the focus is on these species
By an amazing coincidence these are the species of concern in the districts of the senators who introduced it. Senator Harry Reid (D) of Nevada, with four cosponsors, including Senators Max Baucus (D) and John Tester (D) of Montana, Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah, and Senator Tom Udall (D) of New Mexico. My jealousy aside I'm still glad it will be done.
Who are the loans actually going to ?
Anyone who can navigate though the federal process at the interior department. Many might apply and they would pick who is approved.
I wonder if they have developed maps of the affected regions .
Bark beetle
http://www.barkbeetles.org/mountain/fidl2_files/f2_1.gif
Tamarisk
http://biology.usgs.gov/invasive/images/TamMap.JPG
Can you suggest ways we can contact our Senators to
encourage passage ?
U.S. Senate: Senators Home{"commentId":9785126,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#3.3 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:50 AM EDT{"commentId":9785608,"authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}nonStitiousZealotThanks for being on top of this .
From that 1st map , it looks like the Canadians
could make use of this too .
{"commentId":9785608,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}2 votes#3.4 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:50 AM EDT{"commentId":9786003,"authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}Briwnysterra preta (literally "black earth") is a manmade soil of prehistoric origin that is higher in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium than adjacent soils. It controls water and reduces leaching of nutrients from the rhizosphere. Rich in humus, pieces of pre-Columbian unfired clay pottery, and black carbon, it's like a "microbial reef" that promotes and sustains mycorrhizae growth and other beneficial microbes, and it has been shown to retain its fertility for thousands of years. --Terra Preta: Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
This is a very ancient technology everyone could make use of. Check out the other articles seeded to the Biochar group for more information.
{"commentId":9786003,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}1 vote#4 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:04 AM EDT{"commentId":9788533,"authorDomain":"mickleenickel"}mick the biologistthanks iconoclasm - tamarisk reduction can easily extent into arizona and the rio grande basin and its tributaries, as these trees are heavily seeded throughout the SW. i will write udall today, as well as bingaman, since they are the NM senators.
sequestering organic/humic acids, especially within the heavy mineral content of colloids, will unlock the latent energy of those colloids, especially calcium, the heavy hauler of many other minerals. pH is the big problem in colloids, and humic acids are terrific at breaking H2 bonds and liberating calcium and other minerals, and dropping pH from the 8+ range into the lower 7s.
i am with you. i wrote a successful USFS grant for one of the NM Pueblos to reduce phraeadophytes within a major watershed, so i am familiar with this stuff.
{"commentId":9788533,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"mickleenickel"}2 votes#5 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:21 AM EDT{"commentId":9789591,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmThanks for coming by.
humic acids
Is there a DIY way to make humic acid from biomass? Since humic acid can be purchased widely someone like me who ended their biology training in high school can't find information on simple ways to make it.
reduce phraeadophytes
Our bane here are some invasive honeysuckle variety. Not for their water uptake as much as their ability to crowd out native honeysuckles (and most other things for that matter). We also have an over abundance of honey locusts and cedar. Again these aren't really problems they are just too high in number. I hope someday someone can figure out a way to help with our diversity issues by having a use for our "junk" biomass so that more mature native things can slowly take hold again. But fire thing first. These other places are having bigger problems.
{"commentId":9789591,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#5.1 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:17 AM EDT
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4 Votes16 CommentsPrint
Biochar goes to Washington
News Type: Event — Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:46 PM EDTpolitics, congress, senate, biochariconoclasm
S.1713
Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration (WECHAR) Act of 2009 (Introduced in Senate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S 1713 IS
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1713
To establish loan guarantee programs to develop biochar technology using excess plant biomass, to establish biochar demonstration projects on public land, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 24, 2009
Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. HATCH, Mr. TESTER, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BILL
To establish loan guarantee programs to develop biochar technology using excess plant biomass, to establish biochar demonstration projects on public land, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration (WECHAR) Act of 2009'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- Congress finds that--
(1) numerous expert reports have brought attention to the negative impacts caused by invasive weed species, including the consumption of water in areas with diminishing supplies;
(2) salt cedar, or Tamarix species, a noxious and invasive plant commonly found on public land can consume 200 gallons of water per plant each day;
(3) salt cedar now covers as much as 1,000,000 acres of floodplains, riparian acres, wetland, and lake margins in the Western United States;
(4) minimizing the impact of and eradicating invasive species that wrest water from delicate watersheds is in the best interest of the United States;
(5) as drought conditions worsen and legal requirements relating to water supply accelerate water shortages, innovative approaches are needed to address the increasing demand for water;
(6) pine bark beetle has killed thousands of acres of standing forests in the Western United States, creating a hazardous buildup of dead tree biomass that is a serious fire threat to those and surrounding areas;
(7) biochar technology would result in a more cost-effective, environmentally beneficial, and successful approach to combating invasive weeds and removing excess biomass and plant waste from public land;
(8) invasive weeds and excess biomass on public land can serve as feedstock for biochar and alternative fuel production;
(9) it is in the best interest of the United States to conduct a comprehensive and thorough research, development, and demonstration program on biochar and related bioenergy so as to better understand how to use excess biomass available on public land; and
(10) biochar production and use systems have been shown to have many ancillary beneficial environmental impacts.
(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to restore the natural hydrology of Western landscapes by removing water-intensive invasive plant species;
(2) to reduce dangerous forest and rangeland fuel loads;
(3) to develop technologies to convert undesirable invasive plant species to useful materials;
(4) to develop markets for those materials; and
(5) to provide technologies to land managers to continue those processes into the future.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BIOCHAR- The term `biochar' means charcoal or black carbon derived from organic matter through pyrolysis.
(2) BIOENERGY- The term `bioenergy' means hydrocarbons derived from organic matter through pyrolysis, including bio-oil, syngas, or thermal energy.
(3) EXCESS BIOMASS-
(A) IN GENERAL- The term `excess biomass' means any plant matter targeted for removal from public land to promote ecosystem health.
(B) INCLUSIONS- The term `excess biomass' includes--
(i) trees or tree waste on public land;
(ii) wood and wood wastes and residues; and
(iii) weedy plants and grasses (including aquatic, noxious, or invasive plants).
(4) FEEDSTOCK- The term `feedstock' means excess biomass in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the raw material for the production of biochar and bioenergy.
(5) INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES- The term `invasive plant species' means a species--
(A) that is nonnative to a specified ecosystem; and
(B) the introduction to an ecosystem of which causes, or may cause, harm to--
(i) the economy;
(ii) the environment;
(iii) water resources; or
(iv) human, animal, or plant health.
(6) SECRETARY CONCERNED- The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.
SEC. 4. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General- The Director of the United States Geological Survey shall conduct resources assessments that collect and synthesize interagency and State data to quantify--
(1) invasive plant species and excess biomass in the form of dangerous fuel loads on public land that can be used for feedstock;
(2) estimated carbon content in that feedstock;
(3) estimated potential biochar and bioenergy producible from that feedstock; and
(4) potential water savings resulting from removal of invasive plant species and excess biomass on public land, by watershed.
(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, the Director of United States Geological Survey shall submit to Congress a report that describes the results of each resource assessment conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.
(a) Development of Mobile Biochar Production Units- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions--
(1) to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units that--
(A) are designed to use woody invasive plant species and excess biomass feedstock such as tamarisk, pinyon pine, and juniper;
(B) produce net negative carbon emissions relative to natural decomposition;
(C) are self-contained on a portable platform suitable for deployment to remote locations and on unpaved roads; and
(D) can capture biochar and bioenergy produced for immediate energy needs or transport to market; and
(2) to produce, not later than 2 years after the date of securing a guaranteed loan under this section for the purposes described in section 7(a)(2), 4 biochar production units for deployment to remote landscapes, of which--
(A) 2 shall be dedicated primarily to contract work with the Bureau of Land Management; and
(B) 2 shall be dedicated primarily to contract work with the National Park Service.
(b) Development of Fixed Biochar Production Units- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions--
(1) to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units that--
(A) while not necessarily self contained, can be disassembled, moved, and reassembled to be operational on a new site within 30 days, so as to support fuels reduction work;
(B) are designed to use excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations;
(C) produce net negative carbon emissions relative to natural decomposition;
(D) can capture biochar and bioenergy produced for immediate energy needs or transport to market; and
(2) to produce, not later than 2 years after the date of securing a guaranteed loan under this section for the purposes described in section 7(a)(3), 2 biochar production units for deployment to remote landscapes.
(c) Guaranteed Loan Program-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary concerned may provide loan guarantees under this section to an applicant if the biochar production units produced by the applicant will be dedicated primarily to contract restoration work with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or Forest Service, using--
(A) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(B) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(C) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
(2) CRITERIA- In selecting recipients of loan guarantees from among applicants, the Secretary concerned shall give preference to proposals that, as determined by the Secretary concerned--
(A) meet all applicable Federal and State permitting requirements;
(B) are most likely to be successful; and
(C) are located in local markets that have the greatest need for the biochar production units due to--
(i) identified high-priority landscape restoration needs;
(ii) availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks described in subsection (b); or
(iii) a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of the biochar production units.
(3) MATURITY- A loan guaranteed under this section shall have a maturity of not more than 20 years.
(4) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- The loan agreement for a loan guaranteed under this section shall provide that no provision of the loan agreement may be amended or waived without the consent of the Secretary.
(5) GUARANTEE FEE- The recipient of a loan guarantee under this section shall pay to the Secretary concerned a guarantee fee in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned to be sufficient to cover the administrative costs of the Secretary concerned relating to the loan guarantee.
(6) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT-
(A) IN GENERAL- The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees made by the Secretary concerned under this section.
(B) EVIDENCE- Any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for the guarantee with respect to principal and interest.
(C) VALIDITY- The validity of any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaranteed loan.
(7) ANNUAL REPORTS- Until the date on which each guaranteed loan under this section has been repaid in full, each year the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Secretary concerned under this section during the preceding year.
SEC. 6. EXISTING TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each establish a program to provide guarantees of loans by private institutions for the construction or acquisition of facilities for the production of biochar.
(b) Requirement- The Secretary concerned may provide a loan guarantee under this section to an applicant if facilities constructed or acquired by the applicant will be dedicated primarily to contract restoration work with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or Forest Service, using--
(1) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(2) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(3) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
(c) Criteria- In selecting recipients of loan guarantees from among applicants, the Secretary concerned shall give preference to proposals that, as determined by the Secretary concerned--
(1) meet all applicable Federal and State permitting requirements;
(2) are most likely to be successful; and
(3) are located in local markets that have the greatest need for the facility due to--
(A) identified high-priority landscape restoration needs;
(B) availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks described in subsection (b); or
(C) a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of the facility.
(d) Maturity- A loan guaranteed under this section shall have a maturity of not more than 20 years.
(e) Terms and Conditions- The loan agreement for a loan guaranteed under this section shall provide that no provision of the loan agreement may be amended or waived without the consent of the Secretary concerned.
(f) Guarantee Fee- The recipient of a loan guarantee under this section shall pay the Secretary concerned a guarantee fee in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned to be sufficient to cover the administrative costs of the Secretary concerned relating to the loan guarantee.
(g) Full Faith and Credit-
(1) IN GENERAL- The full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all guarantees made by the Secretary concerned under this section.
(2) EVIDENCE- Any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for the guarantee with respect to principal and interest.
(3) VALIDITY- The validity of any guarantee made by the Secretary concerned under this section shall be incontestable in the hands of a holder of the guaranteed loan.
(h) Annual Reports- Until the date on which each guaranteed loan under this section has been repaid in full, each year the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Secretary concerned under this section during the preceding year.
SEC. 7. DEPLOYMENT.
(a) New Technology-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall initiate 3-year programs to employ the biochar production units provided under section 5 in pilot applications in various climates and ecosystems of the United States.
(2) MOBILE UNITS- In the case of biochar production units developed or optimized under section 5(a)--
(A) the Director of the National Park Service shall carry out initial programs using invasive tamarisk in the Mojave Desert as feedstock; and
(B) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall carry out initial programs using excess pinyon pine and juniper biomass in the Great Basin as feedstock.
(3) FIXED UNITS- In the case of biochar production units developed or optimized under section 5(b), the Chief of the Forest Service shall carry out the initial program using bark beetle-killed trees in the Intermountain West.
(b) Existing Technology-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare plans for carrying out 3-year landscape restoration programs in various climates and ecosystems of the United States to employ facilities constructed or acquired under section 6.
(2) REQUIREMENTS- In carrying out the landscape restoration programs described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out programs using invasive tamarisk in the Mojave Desert, excess pinyon pine and juniper biomass in the Great Basin, and bark beetle-killed trees in the Intermountain West.
SEC. 8. APPLICATION AND MARKET RESEARCH.
(a) Attributes- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis that identifies--
(1) attributes and composition profiles of biochar produced from different feedstocks for use as soil amendments; and
(2) attributes and composition profiles of bioenergy produced from different feedstocks for use as fuel for transportation, heating, or other uses identified in subsection (b)(1).
(b) Market Development- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, and the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis that--
(1) identifies potential uses and markets for biochar and bioenergy; and
(2) in the case of economic and life-cycle issues, analyzes--
(A) the full production costs versus the economic benefits of biochar production systems;
(B) the impact of the production and use of biochar, including the performance of biochar in carbon sequestration programs; and
(C) the availability of feedstocks and the efficiency of using those feedstock for biochar production as compared to other biofuel-production systems.
(c) Environmental Review- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide competitive grants to conduct research and analysis relating to--
(1) the environmental benefits of biochar production and use, including--
(A) the water savings resulting from reducing populations of invasive or noxious plant species;
(B) the potential of biochar production systems--
(i) to reduce fertilizer use, nutrient leaching, and run-off; and
(ii) to reduce water pollution from feedlot runoff by capturing ammonia; and
(C) the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production and use of related bioenergy;
(2) the potential environmental impacts of biochar and bioenergy use, including--
(A) the potential toxicity and other adverse ecosystem effects resulting from biochar production or use of different biochars, as identified under subsection (a)(1);
(B) the characterization of combustion products of bioenergy, as identified under subsection (a)(2), and the effects of those combustion products on air and water quality; and
(C) impacts on human health and safety.
(d) Development of Biochar in Landscape Restoration- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, shall provide competitive grants to research and analyze--
(1) the potential uses of biochar in landscape restoration in different ecosystems and soil types;
(2) the relative benefits and potential adverse effects of use of different biochars, as identified under subsection (a)(1) in different western ecosystems and soil types; and
(3) the safety and efficacy of different methods of application.
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iconoclasm's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Alternative Energy - Greenvine, Biochar, Liberal Libertarians, Living with Less, Open Minded
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Senators introduce biochar technology bill Biomass Magazine Tue Sep 29 4
Public Discussion (11)Biochar (1)Living with Less (1)Alternative Energy - Greenvine (1)Open Minded (1)Liberal Libertarians (1)What's this? Who's leading the conversation? This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation. 6.6 {"commentId":9783019,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmYes, I pasted the entire bill in but since it easily readable and says more than I could about what it going on, why not?
Biochar has arrived. Any questions?
{"commentId":9783019,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}1 vote#1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:47 PM EDT{"commentId":9783577,"authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}BriwnysThis is wonderful, Iconoclasm! I hope this garners the support it deserves!
{"commentId":9783577,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}2 votes#2 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:29 PM EDT{"commentId":9783612,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmThanks :)
{"commentId":9783612,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}1 vote#2.1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:32 PM EDT{"commentId":9783907,"authorDomain":"shub"}Shub Tnediserp RemrofCan you sum it up my brain hurts with all that type above.
{"commentId":9783907,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"shub"}1 vote#3 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:51 PM EDT{"commentId":9783941,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmTake weeds, char them, put them in the soil, save water, make energy, store carbon.
Performed as loan guarantees/demostration projects.
{"commentId":9783941,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#3.1 - Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:54 PM EDT{"commentId":9784932,"authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}nonStitiousZealotIt sounds like the focus is on these species :
salt cedar
(A) pinyon pine and juniper feedstock in the Great Basin;
(B) tamarisk feedstock in the Mojave Desert; or
(C) excess biomass feedstock, such as trees killed by bark beetle infestations in the Intermountain West.
I wonder if they have developed maps of the affected regions .
Are those cool micrographic photos of biochar ?
Who are the loans actually going to ?
Can you suggest ways we can contact our Senators to
encourage passage ? This is too good an idea to drop .
{"commentId":9784932,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}2 votes#3.2 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:23 AM EDT{"commentId":9785126,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmAre those cool micrographic photos of biochar ?
Yes. The last two are rubber tree char. I figured a little entertainment with the long text would be good.
It sounds like the focus is on these species
By an amazing coincidence these are the species of concern in the districts of the senators who introduced it. Senator Harry Reid (D) of Nevada, with four cosponsors, including Senators Max Baucus (D) and John Tester (D) of Montana, Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah, and Senator Tom Udall (D) of New Mexico. My jealousy aside I'm still glad it will be done.
Who are the loans actually going to ?
Anyone who can navigate though the federal process at the interior department. Many might apply and they would pick who is approved.
I wonder if they have developed maps of the affected regions .
Bark beetle
http://www.barkbeetles.org/mountain/fidl2_files/f2_1.gif
Tamarisk
http://biology.usgs.gov/invasive/images/TamMap.JPG
Can you suggest ways we can contact our Senators to
encourage passage ?
U.S. Senate: Senators Home{"commentId":9785126,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#3.3 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:50 AM EDT{"commentId":9785608,"authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}nonStitiousZealotThanks for being on top of this .
From that 1st map , it looks like the Canadians
could make use of this too .
{"commentId":9785608,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nonStitiousZealot"}2 votes#3.4 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 1:50 AM EDT{"commentId":9786003,"authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}Briwnysterra preta (literally "black earth") is a manmade soil of prehistoric origin that is higher in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium than adjacent soils. It controls water and reduces leaching of nutrients from the rhizosphere. Rich in humus, pieces of pre-Columbian unfired clay pottery, and black carbon, it's like a "microbial reef" that promotes and sustains mycorrhizae growth and other beneficial microbes, and it has been shown to retain its fertility for thousands of years. --Terra Preta: Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
This is a very ancient technology everyone could make use of. Check out the other articles seeded to the Biochar group for more information.
{"commentId":9786003,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"blessed-isles"}1 vote#4 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:04 AM EDT{"commentId":9788533,"authorDomain":"mickleenickel"}mick the biologistthanks iconoclasm - tamarisk reduction can easily extent into arizona and the rio grande basin and its tributaries, as these trees are heavily seeded throughout the SW. i will write udall today, as well as bingaman, since they are the NM senators.
sequestering organic/humic acids, especially within the heavy mineral content of colloids, will unlock the latent energy of those colloids, especially calcium, the heavy hauler of many other minerals. pH is the big problem in colloids, and humic acids are terrific at breaking H2 bonds and liberating calcium and other minerals, and dropping pH from the 8+ range into the lower 7s.
i am with you. i wrote a successful USFS grant for one of the NM Pueblos to reduce phraeadophytes within a major watershed, so i am familiar with this stuff.
{"commentId":9788533,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"mickleenickel"}2 votes#5 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:21 AM EDT{"commentId":9789591,"authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}iconoclasmThanks for coming by.
humic acids
Is there a DIY way to make humic acid from biomass? Since humic acid can be purchased widely someone like me who ended their biology training in high school can't find information on simple ways to make it.
reduce phraeadophytes
Our bane here are some invasive honeysuckle variety. Not for their water uptake as much as their ability to crowd out native honeysuckles (and most other things for that matter). We also have an over abundance of honey locusts and cedar. Again these aren't really problems they are just too high in number. I hope someday someone can figure out a way to help with our diversity issues by having a use for our "junk" biomass so that more mature native things can slowly take hold again. But fire thing first. These other places are having bigger problems.
{"commentId":9789591,"threadId":"689056","contentId":"3331906","authorDomain":"nkycarbon"}2 votes#5.1 - Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:17 AM EDT
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