12 2 STA T . 2 0 01 PUBLIC LA W 110 – 2 46—J U NE 1 8, 2008 ‘ ‘ (i i )crop pro du c t io n; ‘‘(iii) s oi la nd w at e r science; ‘‘(i v )useo f a g ricultural waste; and ‘‘(v) car b o hy drate , lipid, protein, and lignin che m- istry, en z yme development, and biochemistry; and ‘‘( D ) supporting the dissemination of any of the research conducted under this subsection that will assist in achieving the goals of this section . ‘‘( 2 ) SEL E CTION C R ITERI A . —I n selecting grant recipients for pro j ects under paragraph ( 1 ), the Secretary shall consider— ‘‘( A ) the capabilities and e x periences of the applicant, including— ‘‘(i) research in actual field conditions; and ‘‘(ii) engineering and research k nowledge relating to biofuels or the production of inputs for biofuel production; ‘‘( B ) the range of species types and cropping practices proposed for study (including species types and practices studied using side-by-side comparisons of those types and practices); ‘‘( C ) the need for regional diversity among feedstocks; ‘‘(D) the importance of developing multiyear data rel- evant to the production of biomass feedstock crops; ‘‘( E ) the extent to which the project involves direct participation of agricultural producers; ‘‘( F ) the extent to which the project proposal includes a plan or commitment to use the biomass produced as part of the project in commercial channels; and ‘‘( G ) such other factors as the Secretary may determine. ‘‘(d) ENER GY -E F FICIENCY R E S EARC H AN D E X TENSION AREAS.— O n-farm energy-efficiency research and extension activities funded under the Initiative shall focus on developing and demonstrating technologies and production practices relating to— ‘‘(1) improving on-farm renewable energy production; ‘‘(2) encouraging efficient on-farm energy use; ‘‘( 3 ) promoting on-farm energy conservation; ‘‘( 4 ) making a farm or ranch energy-neutral; and ‘‘( 5 ) enhancing on-farm usage of advanced technologies to promote energy efficiency. ‘‘(e) BEST P RACTICES DATA B ASE.— T he Secretary shall develop a best-practices database that includes information, to be available to the public, on— ‘‘(1) the production potential of a variety of biomass crops; and ‘‘(2) best practices for production, collection, harvesting, storage, and transportation of biomass crops to be used as a source of bioenergy. ‘‘(f) AD M INISTRATION.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraphs (4), ( 7 ),( 8 ), and (11)(B) of subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U .S.C. 45 0 i(b)) shall apply with respect to making grants under this section. ‘‘(2) CONS U LTATION AND COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall— ‘‘(A) make the grants in consultation with the N ational Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board; and Grants.Ap p lic a b ilit y . Pu blic in fo r m ation.
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