[Terrapreta] Char reserach funding

[folke Günther]

 For those living i the US. I like the definition on biochar under (b)
FG

http://www.ethanolmarket.com/PressReleaseUSHouse051508


>From SEC. 9012. BIOCHAR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION.

`(a) Purpose- The purpose of this section is to support research,
development, and demonstration of biochar as a coproduct of bioenergy
production, as a soil enhancement practice, and as a carbon management
strategy.

`(b) Definition of Biochar- In this section, the term `biochar' means
charcoal or biomass-derived black carbon that is added to soil to improve
soil fertility, nutrient retention, and carbon content.

`(c) Grants- The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible
entities to support biochar research, development, and demonstration
projects on multiple scales, including laboratory biochar research and field
trials, and biochar systems on a single farm scale, local community scale,
and agricultural cooperative scale.

`(d) Eligible Entities- To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall be an eligible entity described in section 9005(d).

`(e) Areas of Biochar Research, Development, and Demonstration- In carrying
out this section, the Secretary shall solicit proposals for activities that
include--

`(1) the installation and use of biochar production systems, including
pyrolysis and thermocombustion systems, and the integration of biochar
production with bioenergy and bioproducts production;

`(2) the study of agronomic effects of biochar usage in soils, including
plant growth and yield effects for different application rates and soil
types, and implications for water and fertilizer needs;

`(3) biochar characterization, including analysis of physical properties,
chemical structure, product consistency and quality, and the impacts of
those properties on the soil-conditioning effects of biochar in different
soil types;

`(4) the study of effects of the use of biochar on the carbon content of
soils, with an emphasis on the potential for biochar applications to
sequester carbon;

`(5) the study of effects of biochar on greenhouse gas emissions relating to
crop production, including nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from
cropland;

`(6) the study of the integration of renewable energy and bioenergy
production with biochar production;

`(7) the study of the economics of biochar production and use, including
considerations of feedstock competition, synergies of coproduction with
bioenergy, the value of soil enhancements, and the value of soil carbon
sequestration; and

`(8) such other topics as are identified by the Secretary.

`(f) Funding- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.


-- 
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Folke Günther
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URL: http://www.holon.se/folke
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