Classification of biomass as an energy resource has prompted the investigation of its use for purposes additional to liquid fuel (e.g., on-site heating and lighting purposes, off-site electricity). Biomass

Biomass is organic matter that can be converted into energy. Common examples of biomass include food crops, crops for energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues (e.g., corn stover), wood waste and byproducts (both mill residues and traditionally noncommercial biomass in the woods), and animal manure. Others contend that biomass has seen limited use as an energy source thus far because it is not readily available as a year-round feedstock, is often located at dispersed sites, can be expensive to transport, lacks long-term performance data, requires costly technology to convert to energy, and might not meet quality specifications to reliably fuel electric generators. Legislative History

The term biomass was first introduced by Congress in the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 ( P.L. The tax code contains four additional definitions. In total, 14 biomass definitions have been included in legislation and the tax code since 2004. Thus, because the various definitions determine which feedstocks can be used under the various programs, the definitions are critical to the research, development, and application of biomass used to produce energy. Analysis of Biomass Definitions

Of the many biomass definitions, two may be considered by policy makers, scientists, and program managers as the most comprehensive for energy production purposes: the definition in Title IX of the 2008 farm bill and the definition in Title II of EISA. In the 113 th Congress, there was some congressional discussion and legislation to expand the EISA definition to include biomass from federal lands to better meet the RFS biofuels usage mandate. Advocates of the renewable biomass definition in the 2008 farm bill include groups who seek to use the potentially substantial volumes of waste woody biomass from federal lands and other (non-plantation) forest lands (e.g., waste from timber harvests, from pre-commercial thinnings, or from wildfire fuel reduction treatments) as a source of renewable energy. Recent agricultural and energy legislation has incorporated provisions and established programs to promote the development and use of biomass as a renewable energy source. However, there also have been efforts in Congress to stall or prevent the use of biomass for energy production, which in turn would impact biomass feedstock development. For instance, there were repeated attempts to eliminate certain portions of the Renewable Fuel Standard ( H.R. The biomass definition in legislation influences decisions on the types of crops grown, where they are grown, and their potential preferred energy uses, among other things. 4426 , H.R. 4956 , H.R. 3084 , S. 1267 ). Forthcoming congressional consideration of energy issues, particularly legislation involving the Renewable Fuel Standard or energy tax incentives, may prompt further discussion about the biomass definition in the 114 th Congress.
The use of biomass as an energy feedstock has regularly been presented as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, and rural economic development, and as a tool to possibly help improve the environment (e.g., through greenhouse gas emission reduction). Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops grown specifically to produce energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. Most legislation involving biomass has focused on encouraging the production of liquid fuels from corn. Efforts to promote the use of biomass for power generation have focused on wood, wood residues, and milling waste. Comparatively less emphasis has been placed on the use of non-corn-based biomass feedstocks—other food crops, non-food crops, crop residues, animal manure, and more—as renewable energy sources for liquid fuel use or for power generation. This is partly due to the variety, lack of availability, and dispersed location of non-corn-based biomass feedstock. The technology development status and costs to convert non-corn-based biomass into energy are also viewed by some as obstacles to rapid technology deployment.
To aid in understanding the role of biomass as an energy resource, this report investigates the characterization of biomass in legislation. For over 30 years, the term biomass has been a part of legislation enacted by Congress for various programs, indicating some interest by the general public and policy makers in expanding its use. Biomass-related legislation has provided financial incentives to develop technologies that use biomass. How biomass is defined influences decisions about the types of crops that are grown, where they are grown, and potential preferred energy uses, among other things. There have been 14 biomass definitions included in legislation and in the tax code since 2004.
Future discussions about energy—particularly legislation involving the Renewable Fuel Standard, energy tax incentives, or tribal biomass demonstration projects—may prompt further discussion about the definition of biomass. For example, one point of contention regarding the biomass definition and the Renewable Fuel Standard is whether the term should be defined to include biomass from federal lands. Some argue that removal of biomass from these lands may lead to ecological harm. Others contend that biomass from federal lands can aid the production of renewable energy to meet certain mandates (e.g., the Renewable Fuel Standard) and that removal of biomass can enhance forest protection from wildfires.
Bills introduced in the 113th Congress (e.g., H.R. 4426, H.R. 4956, H.R. 3084, S. 1267) would have modified the biomass definition. However, little legislative action occurred regarding the definition of biomass in the 113th Congress. This report lists biomass definitions enacted by Congress in legislation and the tax code since 2004, and discusses the similarities and differences among the definitions.