GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 708 2022 Regular Session McFarland
ENERGY: Defines biomass as it relates to the Louisiana Renewable Energy
Development Act.
DIGEST
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. When paired with carbon capture technologies,
known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, it may be considered carbon negative.
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.
Proposed law defines "bioenergy with carbon capture and storage" as the process of capturing
and permanently storing carbon dioxide from biomass energy generation.
(Adds R.S. 51:3061(3) and (4) and 3062(6), (7), and (8))
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Prepared by Xavier Alexander. 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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the engrossed bill
1. Defines "bioenergy with carbon capture and storage".
2. Adds to the legislative findings that energy produced from forest products'
manufacturing bioenergy feedstocks and agricultural harvesting when paired with
carbon capture technologies may be considered carbon negative.
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Prepared by Xavier Alexander.