Harvesting Energy Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1884
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2007-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Agricultural colleges
Agricultural conservation
Agricultural education
Agricultural extension work
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural pollution
Agricultural research
Agriculture and Food
Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Animals
Biomass energy
Carbon cycle
Cellulose
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Curricula
Data banks
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric power production
Electric vehicles
Emissions trading
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Government vehicles
Governmental investigations
Groundwater
Habitat conservation
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research and development
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Soil conservation
Soil pollution
Transportation and Public Works
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Water pollution control
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-26
text: 
Harvesting Energy Act of 2007 - Extends: (1) federal procurement of biobased products; (2) biorefinery development grants; (3) the biodiesel fuel education program; (4) the energy audit and renewable energy development program; (5) the biomass research and development program; (6) assistance for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements, including pyrolysis and thermochemical conversion systems; (7) cooperative research and extension projects; (8) the bioenergy program, including establishment of feedstock residue management and transition assistance programs; (9) research, extension, and educational programs on biobased technologies and products; (10) the environmental quality incentives program; and (11) high-priority research and extension initiatives.

Establishes: (1) a biochar research and demonstration program; (2) a strategic biofuel feedstock reserve program; (3) a direct payment program for value-added and renewable energy enterprises; (4) a biomass feedstock pilot program; (5) biochar demonstration projects; and (6) demonstration projects for farm and rural applications of plug-in electric drive vehicles.

Provides for Department of Agriculture (Department) use of flexible fuel vehicles.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, to carry out a renewable energy research and development program. 

Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a standardized protocol for market-based trading of greenhouse gas emissions reductions from soil carbon sequestration to monitor soil carbon sequestration and increases in soil carbon stocks associated with agricultural management practices; (2) provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to develop renewable energy and value-added curricula and provide renewable energy extension services; and (3) provide grants to nonprofit organizations to educate fleet operators and the public about biodiesel and other renewable fuels.

Provides for a joint Department-Department of Energy study and report on reducing the costs of producing electricity from renewable resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10155-10156)
action_date: 2007-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate