Accomplishments Summary

Overview

The Biomass Thermal Energy Council engages in government affairs advocacy to establish a level playing field for biomass thermal energy. The Council also conducts education and outreach activities to provide policymakers, investors, media, and other stakeholders with accurate information on the benefits of using biomass for heat and CHP (combined heat and power).

Thanks to the support of members, BTEC has had a number of important accomplishments in these areas. Below is a summary of some of the most notable achievements to date.

Background

Leveling the Playing Field

Biomass resources will not be directed to their most efficient uses without technology-neutral energy policy. And the current reality is that less-efficient electricity and transportation end-uses for biomass are heavily incentivized at both the state and federal levels, in addition to the continuing subsidization of the use of fossil fuels.

Incentives in one sector impact the pricing of raw biomass materials in all other sectors. America needs a level playing field, where biomass thermal can compete on its merits with biomass power and transportation fuels.

Legislative Accomplishments Summary

Congressional Biomass Caucus

• Led industry development and recruitment for members of the first Congressional Biomass Caucus.

Residential Biomass Heating Systems

• Introduction of H.R. 2080 - American Renewable Biomass Heating Act (Rep. Hodes) -  Bill to expand and extend consumer tax credits for residential biomass heating systems.

• Introduction of S.1643 – Cleaner, Secure, and Affordable Thermal Energy Act (Sens. Snowe/Bingaman) – Bill to expand and extend tax credits for residential biomass heating systems.

• Insertion of biomass appliance provision to H.R. 5019 – Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (Rep. Velch) – Bill to provide point of sale rebates for the installation of eligible, energy efficient home heating appliances.

• Retention of 25C Tax Credit – Coordinated outreach to constituents and legislators to retain a tax credit for biomass home heating appliances as part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853).

Commercial/Industrial Biomass Heating Systems

• Introduction of S. 1294 – Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act of 2011
  Would establish a renewable biomass thermal energy loan program for non-federal, commercial and commercial and multi-family residential buildings.

• Introduction of S.3188  - American Renewable Biomass Heating Act of 2010 (Sens. Shaheen/Murkowski) – Bill to establish business tax credits for commercial/industrial biomass heating systems.

• Helped secure Community Wood Energy Program funding at fully authorized level of $5M/yr in President’s draft 2011 Budget.

 Combined Heat and Power Incentives/Renewable Energy Credits

• Insertion of amendment to S. 1462 – American Clean Energy Leadership Act – Amendment would establish telescoping renewable energy credits for the useful electric and thermal output of biomass facilities. Credits awarded based on energy efficiency. If passed, this bill will for the first time establish renewable energy credits for thermal energy.

• Introduction of S. 3626 – Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act (Sens. Franken/Bond) – Bill to incentivize biomass-fueled district heating facilities through a thermal Production Tax Credit, tax-exempt bonds, and increased grant project and technical assistance funding.

Biomass Production

• Introduction of S. 1094 - Renewable Energy Alternative Production Act (Sen. Wyden). Bill to amend Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow production tax credits for non-electric renewable energy.

Regulatory Actions and Comments Summary

• Answered the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s call for integrating biomass thermal energy in its Clean Energy Standard white paper.

• Through coordinated advocacy and comments, obtained improved emissions limits and wider use of work practice standards for commercial and industrial biomass boilers in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Boiler MACT rules for Area and Major Source Boilers. 

• Worked with industry coalitions to secure a three year deferral on the regulation of biogenic emissions under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration Tailoring Rule.

• Issued supporting comments on the carbon neutrality of biomass fuel sources to the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality.

• Offered recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on modifying the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), and succeeded in classifying densified biomass as an advanced biofuel.

Education and Outreach Accomplishments Summary

• Received a $60,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service for education and outreach projects on biomass thermal energy, addressing biomass topics like air quality, commercial/industrial/residential applications, rural impacts, policy outlook, environmental commodities, and much more. These publicly available resources will include 15 webinars, 5 factsheets, 10 exclusive audio interviews, and a comprehensive presentation. Click here to read more>>.

• Held and co-hosted numerous Congressional briefing on biomass thermal energy. Read more >>

• Organized first-ever session at RETECH conference on biomass thermal energy; participating in a keynote panel at the 2010 International Biomass Conference and Expo.

• Co-host of the Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass Conference, first conference in the northeast focused on biomass thermal energy (www.heatne.com).

• Raised awareness for biomass thermal through regular features and articles in various energy publications, including Hardwood News, Biomass Power & Thermal Magazine, and Bioenergy International.