Timeline
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The following is a chronology of major activities and accomplishments under Biomass Research and Development. Click the links below to jump to a direct year:
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
2010:
March - The Biomass R&D Board reconvenes with co-chairs from USDA Rural Development and DOE Office of Science.
May - $33 million in awards announced for the FY 2010 joint solicitation.
September - TAC finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
December - "Biofuel Feedstock Logistics: Recommendations for Research and Commercialization" report released.
2009:
January - $25 million in awards announced for the FY 2009 joint solicitation.
February - Biomass R&D Continuity Committee holds first meeting to continue the work of the Board until new Board members are appointed.
June - Laura McCann of the DOE Biomass Program attends first meeting as the new Designated Federal Officer to the TAC.
September - TAC finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
November - $24 million in awards granted to 12 projects for the FY 2009 joint solicitation.
December - TAC develops FY 2010 work plan.
2008:
In 2008 the Board created seven Interagency working Groups (IWGs), each tasked with writing a summary report about their respective areas. The seven IWGs are: Feedstock Production, Feedstock Logistics, Conversion Science and Technology, Sustainability, Environment Health and Safety, Distribution Infrastructure, and Intermediate Ethanol Blending.
June - Food Conservation and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008 is passed, amending the Biomass R&D Act of 2000.
September - TAC finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
October - National Biofuels Action Plan is released by the Board.
December - TAC develops FY 2009 work plan.
December - "Increasing Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Economic Drivers, Environmental Implications and the Role of Research" report released.
2007:
March - $18.4 million in awards are announced for the FY 2007 joint solicitation.
May - Valri Lightner of the DOE Biomass Program attends first meeting as the new Designated Federal Officer to the TAC.
May - Biomass Board begins meeting monthly.
September - TAC finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
October - Updated TAC Roadmap is released.
November - TAC develops FY 2008 work plan.
December - Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 is passed.
2006:
The TAC held three regional workshops to update their Roadmap. April - Central Region; August - Western Region; and September - Eastern Region.
March - Updated Vision is finalized.
August - TAC finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
November - $17 million in awards are announced for the FY 2006 joint solicitation.
November - TAC develops FY 2007 work plan.
2005:
March - TAC reviews its 2005 Work Plan, in addition to the USDA/DOE Billion-Ton Feedstock Study, and its project portfolio matrix.
May - Neil Rossmeissl of the DOE Office of the Biomass Program assumes the position of Designated Federal Officer to the TAC.
July - TAC discusses an update to its Vision goals, and evaluates its performance.
August - Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) is signed. Section 941 of EPAct revises the Biomass R&D Act of 2000.
September - Board meets and discusses the FY 2005 and FY 2006 joint solicitations. The Board reviews biomass funding in the SAFETEA-LU Transportation Act, and votes to invite a representative member from the Department of Transportation.
October - $12.6 million in awards are announced for the FY 2005 joint solicitation. The TAC discusses the EPAct changes, and approves a statement supporting current DOE/USDA research on the Ethanol Net Energy Balance.
November - TAC's Vision and Roadmap subcommittee hold one-day Vision Update Workshop, with 18 experts from industry and government providing input for revision of Vision targets.
November - Board and TAC meet to discuss Vision and Roadmap updates. November - TAC develops FY 2006 work plan and finalizes annual recommendations to the Secretaries.
2004:
March - TAC responds to reports from USDA and DOE regarding aggressive federal purchasing of biobased products. They review a project portfolio matrix developed to track R&D projects funded under the solicitation. The TAC also receives an update on achieving the Vision goals. A major portion of the March meeting is devoted to presenting the TAC with technical information on the federal government's historical and current R&D efforts in cellulosic ethanol, gasification and co-firing.
May - TAC Chair, former Senator Tom Ewing, provides testimony along with the Assistant Secretary of EERE, David Garman, to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on the TAC's activities and other Biomass R&D developments.
July - TAC formulates a statement on hydrogen power.
July - USDA and DOE announce the awards for the FY 2004 joint solicitation. Total funding for 21 projects = about $25 million.
September - TAC develops FY 2005 work plan, re-evaluating the USDA and DOE Biomass R&D portfolios in relationship to the Roadmap.
2003:
January - TAC releases the Roadmap for Biomass Technologies outlining a research and development roadmap and identifying public policy measures for promoting and developing environmentally desirable biobased fuels, power and products. The research strategies outlined in the Roadmap will help achieve the goals established by the TAC Vision document.
September - USDA and DOE announce the FY 2003 joint biomass solicitation awardees. Total funding for 19 projects = $23 million.
December - TAC provides R&D recommendations to the Secretaries.
December - TAC develops 2004 Work Plan.
2002:
March - 2002 Farm Bill is passed appropriating funding the USDA uses with DOE to select two R&D projects totaling $2.7M.
April - EERE issues an Integrated Biomass Solicitation, awarding six major integrated biorefinery projects totaling $76M (over 5 years).
June - Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy request the TAC to develop Vision and Roadmap documents to guide future biomass research and development activities.
October - Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States is released, setting far-reaching goals and pathways to increase the role of biomass in the U.S. economy - by 2020: 10% of transportation fuels; 5% of electricity and heat demand in utilities and industry; and 18% of chemicals and materials made in the U.S.
October - Two separate biomass solicitation awardees are announced that include the six DOE biorefinery projects and the two USDA projects.
December - TAC provides R&D recommendations to the Secretaries based on the research strategies outlined in the Roadmap categories.
December - TAC develops 2003 Work Plan.
Other key Biomass R&D events in 2002:
Interagency meetings between USDA and DOE to identify opportunities for collaboration between the respective programs.
A successful meeting of the Interagency Biomass Research and Development Board (Board), and the proposed addition of a new board member, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive.
2001:
December - Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) submits a preliminary set of recommendations to the Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture on the potential of biomass research and development in the United States.
December - TAC develops 2002 Work Plan.
2000:
June - Biomass R&D Act of 2000 is passed forming the Initiative, Board and Technical Advisory Committee. It is a multi-agency effort to coordinate and accelerate all Federal biobased products, biofuels, and bioenergy research and development.