Biomass Initiative Timeline

In June 2002, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy requested the TAC to develop Vision and Roadmap documents in order to guide future biomass research and development activities. They were developed over several months in 2002, and comprised a major portion of the TAC’s work that year. These documents now serve as a resource for the agencies in planning their biomass research and development portfolios.

In October 2002, the Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States was released and set far-reaching goals and pathways to increase the role of biomass in the U.S. economy by 2020: 10 percent of transportation fuels; 5 percent of electricity and heat demand in utilities and industry; and 18 percent of chemicals and materials made in the U.S.

In January 2003, the TAC released the corresponding Roadmap for Biomass Technologies that outlined a research and development roadmap and identified public policy measures for promoting and developing environmentally desirable biobased fuels, power, and products. It represents the collective assessment and expertise of the TAC. The research strategies outlined in this roadmap will help achieve the goals established by the TAC Vision document. The Roadmap is organized by the major categories of research and development that will be needed to achieve the Vision goals.

In December 2002, the TAC provided its R&D recommendations to the Secretaries based on the research strategies outlined in the Roadmap categories.

Other key Biomass Initiative events that occurred during 2002 include:

• Interagency meetings between USDA and DOE to identify opportunities for collaboration between the respective programs.
• A successful meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Board (Board), and the proposed addition of a new board member, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive.
• In April, EERE issued an Integrated Biomass Solicitation, which awarded six major integrated biorefinery projects totaling $76M (over 5 years)that are now part of the Biomass Initiative’s R&D portfolio.
• In March, the 2002 Farm Bill passed which helped to appropriate funding to the USDA. In order to allocate these FY 2002 appropriations, USDA worked in cooperation with DOE to select two R&D projects totaling $2.7M that are now part of the Biomass Initiative’s R&D portfolio.
• In October, two separate biomass solicitation awardees were announced together that included the six DOE biorefinery projects and the two USDA projects that are now part of the Biomass Initiative’s R&D project portfolio.
• The Commitee also developed its 2003 Work Plan.

Over several meetings, the TAC reviewed the FY 2003 USDA-DOE joint solicitation request for proposals (RFP), solicitation process, and awards in order to develop its recommendations to the Secretaries. Additionally, the TAC evaluated the USDA and DOE biomass R&D portfolios as they relate to the TAC’s Vision and Roadmap documents in order to develop their recommendations on R&D.

In September, the USDA and DOE announced the FY 2003 joint biomass solicitation awardees with total funding at $23 million for 19 projects.

In December, the TAC provided its R&D recommendations to the Secretaries. Their response to the TAC’s recommendations is in the FY 2003 Annual Report to Congress on the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. As a result, the Departments implemented a number of the TAC’s recommendations for the FY 2004 joint solicitation. The TAC also developed its 2004 Work Plan.

In March, the TAC responded to reports from USDA and DOE regarding aggressive federal purchasing of biobased products. They also reviewed a project portfolio matrix that was developed in order to track the progress of R&D funded under the solicitation. In addition, the TAC received an update on achieving the Vision goals. A major portion of the March meeting was devoted to presenting the TAC with technical information on the federal government’s historical and current R&D efforts in cellulosic ethanol, gasification and co-firing.

In May, the Chair of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, Former Congressman Tom Ewing, provided testimony along with the Assistant Secretary of EERE, David Garman, to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on the TAC’s activities and other Biomass Initiative developments.

In July, the TAC discussed and formulated a statement on hydrogen power.

In July, the USDA and DOE announced the awards for the FY 2004 joint solicitation, which funded a total of about $25 million to 21 projects.

Currently, the TAC is developing its FY 2005 work plan, re-evaluating the USDA and DOE biomass R&D portfolios in relationship to the Roadmap, and finalizing its recommendations to the Secretaries for FY 2004.

In March, the TAC reviewed its 2005 Work Plan, in addition to the USDA/DOE Billion-Ton Feedstock Study, and its project portfolio matrix.

In May, Neil Rossmeissl of the DOE Office of the Biomass Program assumed the position of Designated Federal Officer to the TAC.

In July, the TAC discussed an update to its Vision goals, and evaluated its performance.

In August, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) was signed. Section 941 of EPAct revised the Biomass R&D Act of 2000.

In September, the Interagency Biomass R&D Board met and discussed the FY 2005 and FY 2006 joint solicitations. The Board reviewed biomass funding in the recent SAFETEA-LU Transportation Act, and voted to invite a representative member from the Department of Transportation.

In October, $12.6 million in awards were announced for the FY 2005 joint solicitation. The TAC discussed the EPAct changes, and approved a statement supporting current DOE/USDA research on the Ethanol Net Energy Balance.

In November, the TAC’s Vision and Roadmap subcommittee held a one-day Vision Update Workshop, with 18 experts from industry and government providing input for revision of Vision targets. The Board and TAC met November 29-30, 2005 to discuss Vision and Roadmap updates, develop its FY 2006 work plan, and finalize annual recommendations to the Secretaries.