7 USC 8113 - Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 25, 2025

§ 8113.

Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Community wood energy system

(A)

In general

The term “community wood energy system” means an energy system that—

(i)

produces thermal energy or combined thermal energy and electricity where thermal is the primary energy output;

(ii)

services public facilities owned or operated by State or local governments (including schools, town halls, libraries, and other public buildings) or private or nonprofit facilities (including commercial and business facilities, such as hospitals, office buildings, apartment buildings, and manufacturing and industrial buildings); and

(iii)

uses woody biomass, including residuals—

(I)

that have not been adulterated with glue or other chemical treatments from wood processing facilities, as the primary fuel; and

(II)

for which the use of that biomass for energy production does not cause conversion of forests to nonforest use.

(B)

Inclusions

(2)

Innovative wood product facility

The term “innovative wood product facility” means a manufacturing or processing plant or mill that produces—

(A)

building components or systems that use large panelized wood construction, including mass timber;

(B)

wood products derived from nanotechnology or other new technology processes, as determined by the Secretary; or

(C)

other innovative wood products that use low-value, low-quality wood, as determined by the Secretary.

(3)

Mass timber

The term “mass timber” includes—

(A)

cross-laminated timber;

(B)

nail-laminated timber;

(C)

glue-laminated timber;

(D)

laminated strand lumber; and

(E)

laminated veneer lumber.

(4)

Program

(b)

Competitive grant program

(c)

Matching grants

(1)

In general

(2)

Special circumstances

(3)

Source of matching funds

(d)

Project cap

The total amount of grants under the Program for a community wood energy system project or innovative wood product facility project may not exceed—

(1)

in the case of grants under the general authority provided under subsection (c)(1), $1,000,000; and

(2)

in the case of grants for which the special circumstances apply under subsection (c)(2), $1,500,000.

(e)

Selection criteria

In selecting applicants for grants under the Program, the Secretary shall consider the following:

(1)

The energy efficiency of the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility.

(2)

The cost effectiveness of the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility.

(3)

The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility represents the best available commercial technology.

(4)

The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system uses the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler of similar size and type.

(5)

(A)

The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system will displace conventional fossil fuel generation.

(B)

Whether the proposed community wood energy system minimizes emission increases to the greatest extent possible.

(6)

The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system will increase delivered thermal efficiency of the systems replaced.

(7)

The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated a high likelihood of project success by completing detailed engineering and design work in advance of the grant application.

(8)

Other technical, economic, conservation, and environmental criteria that the Secretary considers appropriate.

(f)

Grant priorities

In selecting applicants for grants under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to proposals that use the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler and—

(1)

would be carried out in a location where markets are needed for the low-value, low-quality wood;

(2)

would be carried out in a location with limited access to natural gas pipelines;

(3)

would include the use or retrofitting (or both) of existing sawmill facilities located in a location where the average annual unemployment rate exceeded the national average unemployment rate by more than 1 percent during the previous calendar year; or

(4)

would be carried out in a location where the project will aid with forest restoration.

(g)

Limitations

(1)

Capacity of community wood energy systems

(2)

Funding for innovative wood product facilities

(h)

Funding

(Pub. L. 107–171, title IX, § 9013, as added Pub. L. 110–234, title IX, § 9001(a), May 22, 2008,

cite as: 7 USC 8113