†
1249
HR 2419 EAS
scribed in paragraph (4)) of more than
$500,000, the amount of a grant made
under this subsection shall not exceed the
greater of—
‘‘(I) $250,000; or
‘‘(II) 25 percent of the total eligi-
ble cost.
‘‘(iii) MAXIMUM.—In no case shall the
amount of a grant made under this section
exceed $2,000,000.
‘‘(B) LOAN
GUARANTEES.—The principal
amount and interest of a loan guaranteed under
this subsection may not exceed the lesser of—
‘‘(i) 80 percent of the difference
between—
‘‘(I) the total cost to install and
operate the eligible facility for the first
year, as determined by the Secretary;
and
‘‘(II) the amount of any Federal,
State, and local funds received to sup-
port the eligible facility; and
‘‘(ii) $25,000,000.
‘‘(7) PROHIBITION.—A grant or loan guarantee
may not be provided for a project under this sub-
†
1250
HR 2419 EAS
section that also receives assistance under subsection
(b) or (c).
‘‘(e) ROLE OF STATE RURAL DEVELOPMENT DIREC-
TOR.—
‘‘(1) OUTREACH AND AVAILABILITY OF INFORMA-
TION.—
‘‘(A) OUTREACH.—A State rural develop-
ment director, acting through local rural devel-
opment offices, shall provide outreach regarding
the availability of financial assistance under this
section.
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY
OF
INFORMATION.—A
State rural development director shall make
available information relating to the availability
of financial assistance under this section at all
local rural development, Farm Service Agency,
and Natural Resources Conservation Service of-
fices.
‘‘(2) APPLICATION REVIEW.—Applications for as-
sistance under this section shall be reviewed by the
appropriate State rural development director.
‘‘(f) SMALL PROJECTS.—
‘‘(1) APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS.—The
Secretary shall develop a streamlined application and
†
1251
HR 2419 EAS
expedited review process for project applicants seeking
less than $20,000 under this section.
‘‘(2) PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS.—Not less than 20
percent of the funds made available under subsection
(k)(1) shall be made available to make grants under
this section in an amount of less than $20,000.
‘‘(g) PREFERENCE.—In selecting projects to receive
grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference
to projects that receive or will receive financial support
from the State in which the project is carried out.
‘‘(h) RURAL ENERGY STAR.—The Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy,
shall extend the Energy Star program established by section
324A of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C.
6294a) to include a Rural Energy Star component to pro-
mote the development and use of energy-efficient equipment
and facilities in the agricultural sector.
‘‘(i) REPORTS.—Not later than 4 years after the date
of enactment of the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the im-
plementation of this section, including the outcomes
achieved by projects funded under this section.
‘‘(j) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—Of the
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Sec-
†
1252
HR 2419 EAS
retary shall make available $230,000,000 to carry out
subsections (b), (c), and (d) for fiscal year 2008, to
remain available until expended, of which—
‘‘(A) not less than 5 percent shall be used to
carry out subsection (b); and
‘‘(B) not less than 15 percent shall be used
to carry out subsection (d).
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In
addition to any other funds made available to carry
out this section, there are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
‘‘SEC. 9008. BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
OF 2000.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) BIOBASED PRODUCT.—The term ‘biobased
product’ means—
‘‘(A) an industrial product (including
chemicals, materials, and polymers) produced
from biomass; and
‘‘(B) a commercial or industrial product
(including animal feed and electric power) de-
rived in connection with the conversion of bio-
mass to fuel.
†
1253
HR 2419 EAS
‘‘(2) DEMONSTRATION.—The term ‘demonstra-
tion’ means demonstration of technology in a pilot
plant or semi-works scale facility, including a plant
or facility located on a farm.
‘‘(3) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘Initiative’ means
the Biomass Research and Development Initiative es-
tablished under subsection (e).
‘‘(4) NATIONAL
LABORATORY.—The term ‘Na-
tional Laboratory’ has the meaning given that term
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15801).
‘‘(5) POINT OF CONTACT.—The term ‘point of
contact’ means a point of contact designated under
this section.
‘‘(b) COOPERATION AND COORDINATION IN BIOMASS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture
and the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with re-
spect to, and coordinate, policies and procedures that
promote research and development leading to the pro-
duction of biofuels and biobased products.
‘‘(2) POINTS OF CONTACT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To coordinate research
and development programs and activities relat-