DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 708 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session McFarland
Abstract: Provides for legislative findings and defines "biomass" within the Louisiana Renewable
Energy Development Act.
Proposed law provides that the legislature finds and declares energy produced from forest products'
manufacturing bioenergy feedstocks and energy produced from sugarcane bagasse are considered
renewable and carbon neutral.
Proposed law defines "biomass" as any forest products' manufacturing bioenergy feedstocks, which
may include but not be limited to the following:
(a)Forest products' manufacturing residuals, including but not limited to spent pulping liquors,
pulping by-products, woody manufacturing residuals, paper recycling residuals, wastewater
and process water treatment plant residuals, and anaerobic digester biogas.
(b)Harvest residues, including trees or portions of harvested trees that are too small or of too
poor quality to be utilized for wood products or paper products;
(c)Downed wood from extreme weather events and natural disasters, nonhazardous landscape
or right-of-way trimmings and municipal trimmings, and plant material removed for purposes
of invasive or noxious plant species control; biowaste, including landfill gas.
(d)Forest biomass derived from residues created as a by-product of timber harvesting, including
but not limited to low-value wood, treetops, and tree limbs.
(e)Forest management activities conducted for stand improvement or to increase yield,
ecological restoration, or to maintain or enhance forest health including but not limited to
hazardous fuels reduction.
(f)Biomass materials recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as fuels under
40 CFR Part 241.4.
(g)Other used wood products, such as crates or pallets.
Proposed law defines "sugarcane bagasse biomass" or "bagasse biomass" as the solid waste that
remains after the extraction of sugarcane liquid from the stalks and includes but is not limited to the
following: (a)Biomass from factory bagasse obtained from industrial sugarcane processing and which
contains only trace amounts of sugarcane liquid.
(b)Biomass from farm bagasse obtained from on-farm or small factory processing and which
contains a higher amount of sugarcane liquid.
(c)Dewatered pulp derived from bagasse and recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency as fuels under 40 CFR Part 241.4.
(Adds R.S. 51:3061(3) and (4) and 3062(6) and (7))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Add to the legislative findings that energy from agricultural harvesting, including bagasse
from sugarcane processing, is required to be considered renewable and carbon neutral.
3. Define "sugarcane bagasse biomass" as the solid waste from sugarcane processing,
including factory bagasse from industrial processing, farm bagasse from on-farm or small
factory processing, and dewatered pulp from bagasse and recognized in federal present
law.