Energy Department would conduct and coordinate bioenergy research and demonstrations

The Energy Secretary would run research, development, demonstrations, and efforts to move bioenergy and renewable chemicals and materials into commercial use. The work would cover renewable raw materials, ways to turn them into useful products, product testing, environmental and economic analysis, sustainability, workforce training, and public engagement. The Secretary would coordinate with other agencies and outside partners when practical and appropriate.

The Energy Secretary would support at least four small-scale facilities for developing or scaling up bioenergy processes. The facilities would help researchers, businesses, and agricultural groups test small amounts of advanced fuels and other products, and must vary by region and technical focus. Eligible researchers would compete for access, with projects judged on technical quality. Projects must demonstrate advanced bioenergy technologies that could lower costs and improve environmental effects; sharing more data may be part of the work. Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary would seek information about existing facilities and best practices; support for at least four facilities would be due within two years.

The Secretary would award competitive grants and other joint funding agreements and run demonstration programs for biorefineries and university biodiesel use. Incubator awards would cover technologies not significantly represented in department research or roadmaps at enactment; demonstrations would cover integrated biorefineries and biodiesel generators at colleges. Biorefinery projects could receive awards only if they show they can operate profitably without direct federal subsidies after their initial construction costs are funded. The Secretary would request proposals for integrated biorefinery demonstrations within six months of enactment.

The Secretary would develop, update, and publicly report on a strategy for the bioenergy program. The strategy would cover research needs over periods of up to two, seven, and 15 years, including opportunities to improve the national bioeconomy data system. The listed funding amounts would only allow Congress to provide money later; they would not themselves supply it. The first strategy and report would be due within one year of enactment; updates would be yearly, reports at least every two years, and funding authority would cover fiscal years 2027 through 2031.