HR 90
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 90
To provide for Federal research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application activities to enable the development of farms that
are net producers of both food and energy, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2011
Mr. BARTLETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
A BILL
To provide for Federal research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application activities to enable the development of farms that
are net producers of both food and energy, 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. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) the productivity of the `green revolution' has been fueled by abundant,
low cost fossil fuels providing raw material and energy for fertilizer,
herbicides, and pesticides, and for powering mechanization, thereby multiplying
farm worker output;
(2) farm worker productivity is based on the input of large quantities of
fossil fuel based energy and chemicals, with typically an input of as much
as 10 fossil calories used to produce a calorie of food output;
(3) food production in this manner cannot be sustained if fossil fuels are
depleted and become increasingly costly and scarce, and biofuels are not
a viable alternative if their production consumes more energy than they
contain;
(4) reduction of energy consumption through maximum efficiency is a prerequisite
to sustainable reliance on renewable resources at an affordable scale; and
(5) for over a century, agriculture extension has shown that demonstration
of viable techniques and technologies is a powerful force for their adoption
and promotion.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term `eligible entity' means--
(A) a regional, State, local, or tribal agency;
(B) a nonprofit organization or institution that farms or provides farm
or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate
farms;
(C) a farm or farmer or for-profit corporation that farms, or group of
such farms, farmers, or corporations, at least 50 percent of the gross
revenue of which is derived from the sale of food or fiber grown on the
farm, if the acreage under their control, individually and collectively,
whether through ownership or leasehold interests, is less than 160 acres;
and
(D) institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(2) RENEWABLE ENERGY- The term `renewable energy' means energy obtained
from a resource in a manner capable of being indefinitely sustained or replenished.
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Energy.
(4) SELF-POWERED FARM- The term `self-powered farm' means a farm or collection
of farms that--
(A) is capable of independence from offsite sources of energy, fuel, and
raw materials for fuel;
(B) is a community resource for--
(ii) energy, fuel, or raw materials for fuel;
(C) minimizes or eliminates ongoing operating expenditures to offsite
entities for fossil fuel-derived energy;
(D) employs sustainable farming practices for long term soil fertility;
and
(E) produces at least 2 times as much energy, including fuel or raw materials
for fuel, as it consumes both on site and in the transfer of farm products
to market.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National
Academy of Sciences for--
(1) the development of recommendations for appropriate evaluation measures
and criteria for the programs under this Act; and
(2) an evaluation of the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs
as tools to promote self-powered farms, and recommendations for how to carry
out such programs, if feasible.
(b) Report- Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report containing the recommendations
and evaluation described in subsection (a).
SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall establish a program, taking into account the recommendations
of the National Academy of Sciences under section 3, for the research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application of energy technologies or other
technologies that have the potential to increase energy efficiency or otherwise
to enable self-powered farms. The Secretary shall award grants under this
section to eligible entities, or consortia thereof, on a competitive basis.
The Secretary shall encourage participation in the program under this section
through the Agricultural Cooperative Extension System.
SEC. 5. STATE AGRICULTURAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AWARDS.
The Secretary shall establish a program, taking into account the recommendations
of the National Academy of Sciences under section 3, for making awards to
not more than 30 State agricultural research programs for the demonstration
in a farm setting of the integration of technologies developed under section
4, or other technologies, in a manner that best achieves the goal of self-powered
farms.
SEC. 6. LOAN PROGRAMS.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall provide, on a competitive basis, low-cost
revolving loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities for the commercial
application of energy technologies or other technologies that will contribute
to the goal of establishing self-powered farms.
(b) Preferences- In providing loans or loan guarantees under this section,
the Secretary shall give preference to applicants who propose to derive the
highest proportion of their energy needs from technologies that use biobased
feedstocks or other renewable energy sources. The Secretary shall give highest
preference to applicants who propose to meet their energy needs from biobased
feedstocks or other renewable energy sources produced on that farm.
(c) Oversight- The Secretary shall establish procedures to enable the Secretary
to oversee the operation of projects supported by loans or loan guarantees
under this section, to ensure that such projects are operated consistent with
the goals and requirements of this Act.
(d) Loan Amount- The amount of a loan under this section shall not exceed
80 percent of the cost of the project for which the loan is provided.
(e) Guarantee Amount- The Secretary shall not guarantee under this section
more than 80 percent of the principal of any loan.
SEC. 7. CONSULTATION.
In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of
Agriculture.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REVIEW.
The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of
Sciences for a review of the programs under this Act and the development of
recommendations for improvements to such programs. Not later than 4 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the
Congress a report containing such review and recommendations.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary--
(1) to carry out section 4, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012
through 2016;
(2) to carry out section 5, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012
through 2016; and
(3) to carry out section 6, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012
through 2016.
SEC. 10. COST SHARING.
In carrying out a research, development, demonstration, or commercial application
program or activity under this Act through an award of a grant, contract,
cooperative agreement, or other instrument other than a loan or loan guarantee,
the Secretary shall require cost sharing in accordance with section 988 of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).
END
