article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act'' . SEC. 2. BIOFUELS AND BIOREFINERY INFORMATION CENTER. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''), in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish an information center to make available to interested parties information on research, development, and commercial application of technologies related to biofuels and biorefineries, including-- (1) biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies capable of making fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks; (2) biotechnology processes capable of making biofuels with an emphasis on development of biorefinery technologies using enzyme-based processing systems; and (3) other advanced processes and technologies that will enable the development of biofuels. (b) Administration.--In administering the biofuels and biorefinery information center, the Secretary shall-- (1) continually update information provided by the center; (2) make information available to interested parties on the process for establishing a biorefinery; and (3) make information and assistance provided by the center available through a toll-free telephone number and website. SEC. 3. BIOFUELS AND ADVANCED BIOFUELS INFRASTRUCTURE. Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(f) Biofuels and Advanced Biofuels Infrastructure.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program of research, development, and demonstration as it relates existing transportation fuel distribution infrastructure and new alternative distribution infrastructure. The program shall focus on the physical and chemical properties of biofuels and efforts to prevent or mitigate against adverse impacts of those properties in the following areas: ``(A) Corrosion of metal, plastic, rubber, cork, fiberglass, glues, or any other material used in pipes and storage tanks. ``(B) Dissolving of storage tank sediments. ``(C) Clogging of filters. ``(D) Contamination from water or other adulterants or pollutants. ``(E) Poor flow properties related to low temperatures. ``(F) Oxidative and thermal instability in long- term storage and use. ``(G) Increased volatile emissions. ``(H) Microbial contamination. ``(I) Problems associated with electrical conductivity. ``(J) Increased nitrogen oxide emissions.''. SEC. 4. BIODIESEL. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing to 5 percent the proportion of diesel fuel sold in the United States that is biodiesel (as defined in section 757 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16105)). SEC. 5. BIORESEARCH CENTERS FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY PROGRAM. Section 977(a)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(a)(1)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, including the establishment of at least 11 bioresearch centers of varying sizes, as appropriate, that focus on biofuels, of which at least 2 centers shall be located in each of the 4 Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts with no subdistricts and at least 1 center shall be located in each of the subdistricts of the Petroleum Administration for Defense District with subdistricts''. SEC. 6. GRANTS FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CERTAIN STATES. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of biofuel production technologies in States with low rates of ethanol production, including low rates of production of cellulosic biomass ethanol, as determined by the Secretary. (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall-- (1)(A) be an institution of higher education (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)) located in a State described in subsection (a); or (B) be a consortium including at least 1 such institution of higher education, and industry, State agencies, Indian tribal agencies, or local government agencies located in the State; and (2) have proven experience and capabilities with relevant technologies. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010. SEC. 7. BIOREFINERY ENERGY EFFICIENCY. Section 932 of Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(g) Biorefinery Energy Efficiency.--The Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption in the operation of biorefinery facilities.''. SEC. 8. STUDY OF INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF ETHANOL-BLENDED GASOLINE WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF ETHANOL. (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary of Transportation, and after providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, shall conduct a study of the feasibility of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol- blended gasoline with levels of ethanol that are not less than 10 percent and not more than 40 percent. (b) Study.--The study under subsection (a) shall include-- (1) a review of production and infrastructure constraints on increasing consumption of ethanol; (2) an evaluation of the economic, market, and energy- related impacts of State and regional differences in ethanol blends; (3) an evaluation of the economic, market, and energy- related impacts on gasoline retailers and consumers of separate and distinctly labeled fuel storage facilities and dispensers; (4) an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the ethanol blends described in subsection (a) on evaporative and exhaust emissions from on-road, off-road, and marine vehicle engines; (5) an evaluation of the impacts of the ethanol blends described in subsection (a) on the operation, durability, and performance of on-road, off-road, and marine vehicle engines; and (6) an evaluation of the safety impacts of the ethanol blends described in subsection (a) on consumers that own and operate off-road and marine vehicle engines. (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the study conducted under this section. SEC. 9. STUDY OF OPTIMIZATION OF FLEXIBLE FUELED VEHICLES TO USE E-85 FUEL. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of whether optimizing flexible fueled vehicles to operate using E-85 fuel would increase the fuel efficiency of flexible fueled vehicles, and shall include recommendations for how manufacturers can best optimize such vehicles to increase fuel efficiency. (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes the results of the study under this section, including any recommendations of the Secretary. SEC. 10. STUDY OF ENGINE DURABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF BIODIESEL. (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a study on the effects of the use of biodiesel on engine durability. (b) Components.--The study under this section shall include-- (1) an assessment of whether the use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines lessens engine durability; and (2) an assessment of the effects referred to in subsection (a) with respect to biodiesel blends at varying concentrations, including the following percentage concentrations of biodiesel: (A) 5 percent biodiesel. (B) 10 percent biodiesel. (C) 20 percent biodiesel. (D) 30 percent biodiesel. (E) 100 percent biodiesel. (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes the results of the study under this section, including any recommendations of the Secretary. SEC. 11. BIOENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION. (a) Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)-- (A) at the end of paragraph (2) by striking ``and''; (B) at the end of paragraph (3) by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(4) $963,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''; and (2) in subsection (c)-- (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$251,000,000'' and inserting ``$377,000,000''; (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$274,000,000'' and inserting ``$398,000,000''; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(4) $419,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $150,000,00 shall be for section 932(d).''.
summary: Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an information center on research, development, and commercial application of technologies related to biofuels and biorefineries, including: (1) biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies to make fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks; (2) biotechnology processes that emphasize enzyme-based processing systems; and (3) other advanced processes and technologies that will enable biofuel development. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary to implement a research, development, and demonstration program relating to: (1) existing transportation fuel distribution infrastructure and new alternative distribution infrastructure, focusing on the physical and chemical properties of biofuels and prevention of or mitigation against certain adverse impacts; (2) bioresearch centers located in Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts, with a focus on biofuels; and (3) increased energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption in biorefinery facilities. Directs the Secretary to make grants for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of biofuel production technologies in states with low rates of ethanol production and of cellulosic biomass ethanol. Requires the Secretary to study and report to Congress on: (1) research and development challenges in increasing to 5% biodiesel fuel sold in the United States; (2) the feasibility of increasing domestic consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline with specified levels of ethanol; (3) whether optimizing flexible fueled vehicles to use E-85 fuel would increase their fuel efficiency; and (4) the effects of biodiesel upon engine durability.