BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025
The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 would create the Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Advancement Commission (BECCS Advancement Commission) within the Department of Agriculture. The Commission would bring together federal agency leaders, state foresters, forest and land managers, industry representatives, and BECCS industry players to develop policy recommendations and metrics to advance BECCS—the use of bioenergy facilities that capture and store carbon—across the United States. Its work would focus on policy modernization, deployment of BECCS systems, forest health, wildfire management, energy reliability, and the domestic biomass supply chain, including coordination with federally managed lands. The bill sets a defined process: appointing members within 180 days, establishing leadership (the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development would normally chair), regular meetings at least quarterly, and a mandate to produce a comprehensive policy and metrics report within one year of the first meeting. The Commission would have authority to gather information from federal agencies, hold hearings, and seek interagency regulatory changes to facilitate BECCS deployment. It would terminate 180 days after delivering its final report. Members would serve without compensation, but could be reimbursed for travel, and the Commission could hire staff and use federal resources as needed.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose: Creates the BECCS Advancement Commission in the Department of Agriculture to develop policy recommendations and measures for BECCS deployment, with a focus on systems or power plants using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage and the broader effects on forest health, wildfire management, and local communities.
- 2Membership: Includes high-level federal officials (Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development; Chief of the Forest Service; Director of the Bureau of Land Management; Director of DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office) plus a mix of industry and state representatives (state foresters, timber industry, state energy officials) and four BECCS industry representatives, plus 1-2 county representatives from counties receiving federal Secure Rural Schools funds.
- 3Appointment and leadership: Appointments to specified roles must occur within 180 days; the Under Secretary for Rural Development typically serves as chair and as the Federal official for related governance, with provisions to appoint others if that office is vacant.
- 4Duties and reporting: The Commission will issue policy recommendations and metrics for BECCS deployment, including effects on jobs, energy costs, reliability, domestic supply chains, forest health, wildfire mitigation, clean energy, and rural economic development; it must produce a comprehensive report within one year and may submit interim reports at its discretion.
- 5Operations and authority: The Commission can hold hearings, obtain information from federal agencies, use mail services, accept gifts, and hire staff. Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel; it can detail federal personnel to assist and may procure temporary services.
- 6Termination: The Commission terminates 180 days after delivering the required final report.
- 7Regulations: The Secretary (Agriculture) can issue regulations to implement the Act, in coordination with Interior and Energy.