Lawmakers seek broader U.S. biomass-for-biofuel list

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Farm-state lawmakers on Wednesday asked the Obama administration to back a broader definition of biomass for use in renewable fuels, an issue entangled with congressional action on climate change.

Some lawmakers from rural districts say they will not support the climate bill without a more favorable treatment of biofuels, such as an expansive definition of biomass. The climate bill is a top priority for House Democratic leaders.

During a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, asked if the administration supported a broad definition.

"The (Agriculture) Department and the administration are still working our their position," replied USDA deputy undersecretary Jay Jensen.

Rep Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a South Dakota Democrat, said the administration should "take a position to meet the goal we've set" for producing fuel ethanol from cellulose, found in grass and wood.

Without a broad definition, she said, ethanol makers will not have enough raw material meet the goal of producing 16 billion gallons a year of cellulosic ethanol by 2022.

"I think it should be at the very least the farm bill definition," Sandlin told reporters later.

A Congressional Research Service report says the 2008 farm law includes biomass from federal land as biofuel feedstock. The 2007 energy law excludes biomass from federal lands and crops from forested land. The CRS study says the two laws have the most comprehensive definitions for energy production purposes.

The 2008 farm law defines renewable biomass as organic material available on a recurring basis including agricultural commodities, plants and trees, algae and waste material from crops, animals and food. It also allows use of "materials, pre-commercial clippings or invasive species" from national forests and federal land.