District Energy and Combined Heat and Power Incentives

BTEC supports the development of combined heat and power (CHP) and district energy facilities that incorporate high-efficiency, biomass-fired heating systems.  BTEC supports a national Renewable Electricity Standard that enables electric utilities to meet a portion of their renewable energy requirements through energy efficiency improvements such as the use of these biomass-fired CHP systems.

Active Legislation:

S. 1621: Thermal Energy Efficiency Act of 2009
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Summary:

• Establishes Thermal Energy Efficiency Fund that would award grants for district energy, combined heat and power, and recoverable waste energy projects. Includes biomass facilities.
• Under a federal greenhouse gas emissions regulation program, two percent of emission allowances established for each calendar year from 2012-2050 would be allocated to the Fund.

 Bill Full-Text: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-1621

S. AMDT 1903 to H.R. 3183: Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)

Summary:

• Amendment incorporated into the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that provides $15 million for district energy feasibility studies.
• Directs that $15 million from the Industrial Technology Program’s $100 million appropriation be used to fund technical assistance grants as authorized under Section 399a of the 2007 Energy Act
• Amendment would fund, for the first time, the technical assistance and planning grants under Section 399A of the 2007 energy bill. That section provides for feasibility study and engineering and planning grants for district energy and CHP systems

Amendment Full-Text: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:50:./temp/~bdMi6l::