What U.S. Legislation and/or Initiatives are driving biomass R&D/expansion/usage? Are there any of the specific biomass materials that are considered "stand-outs" among the others?

FEDERAL

Initiatives are currently being funded by various federal agencies; these are being coordinated through the National Bioenergy Center (NBC), which is a virtual management center that is responsible for overseeing the research performed by the National laboratories. The NBC actively collaborates with industry, academia, other EERE programs, and other governmental research, development, and commercialization programs to support the achievement of biomass goals and help reduce the production cost of biofuels.

The following agencies are members of the Biomass R&D Board:

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Department of Interior (DOI)
• Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
• Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Department of Commerce (DOC)
• Department of the Treasury (Treasury)
• Department of Defense (DoD)[1]

EERE Biomass Program

The goal of the EERE Biomass Program is,

“A viable, sustainable domestic biomass industry that produces renewable biofuels, bioproducts and biopower, enhances U.S. energy security, reduces our dependence on oil, provides environmental benefits including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and creates economic opportunities across the nation.”

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/index.html

Legislative, regulatory, and policy efforts

(ref: “Biomass Multi-Year Program Plan,” DOE EERE, April 2011)

Research by Eliza Brannigan