110th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 167

To amend the Clean Air Act to require the Secretary of Energy to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out research, development, and demonstration projects of cellulosic ethanol and construct infrastructure that enables retail gas stations to dispense cellulosic ethanol for vehicle fuel to reduce the consumption of petroleum-based fuel.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 4, 2007

Mrs. BOXER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Clean Air Act to require the Secretary of Energy to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out research, development, and demonstration projects of cellulosic ethanol and construct infrastructure that enables retail gas stations to dispense cellulosic ethanol for vehicle fuel to reduce the consumption of petroleum-based fuel.

    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 `Cellulosic Ethanol Development and Implementation Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. CELLULOSIC ETHANOL FUEL DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM.

    Section 212 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7546) is amended by adding at the end the following:

    `(f) Cellulosic Ethanol Fuel Grant Program-

      `(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY- In this subsection, the term `eligible entity' means--

        `(A) an institution of higher education;

        `(B) a National Laboratory;

        `(C) a Federal research agency;

        `(D) a State research agency;

        `(E) a private sector entity;

        `(F) a nonprofit organization; or

        `(G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).

      `(2) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities for use in carrying out research, development, and demonstration projects relating to the use of cellulosic ethanol fuel for motor vehicles.

      `(3) APPLICATION- An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit to the grant review committee described in paragraph (4) an application for the grant at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the grant review committee may require.

      `(4) GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE- Applications for grants under this subsection shall be reviewed, and approved or disapproved, by a grant review committee composed of an equal number of representatives of--

        `(A) the Department of Energy, to be appointed by the Secretary;

        `(B) the Department of Agriculture, to be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture;

        `(C) the Environmental Protection Agency, to be appointed by the Administrator; and

        `(D) experts that are not full-time employees of the Federal Government, to be appointed by the President.

      `(5) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this subsection, the grant review committee shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to carry out--

        `(A) projects that use alternative or renewable energy sources in the production of cellulosic ethanol fuel; and

        `(B) demonstration projects.

      `(6) MATCHING FUNDS- As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the amount of 20 percent of the total amount of the grant.

      `(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2013.

    `(g) Infrastructure Pilot Program for Cellulosic Ethanol Fuel-

      `(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to provide grants to eligible entities (as described in subsection (d)(2) or defined in subsection (f)) for use in installing infrastructure (such as pumps) that would enable retail gas stations to sell and dispense ethanol fuel.

      `(2) APPLICATION- An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

      `(3) MATCHING FUNDS- As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the amount of 20 percent of the total amount of the grant.

      `(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2013.'.

SEC. 3. CELLULOSIC BIOMASS ETHANOL CONVERSION ASSISTANCE.

    Section 212(e) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7546(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

      `(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010.'.

END