Because of the energy bill …
The existing BLM timber sale contracts could provide twenty-five times more acres for biomass utilization than current levels. An active forest management and restoration program could annually provide a potential energy supply of 438 Gigawatt hours. Reducing hazardous fuels under the National Fire Plan would provide the greatest immediate opportunity to expand biomass production on public lands. The BLM estimates the potential energy supply from this activity could be as much as 219 Gigawatt hours.
Sec. 210 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to offset the cost of purchasing biomass from hazardous fuels reduction and other forest restoration projects on Federal or Indian lands to produce electricity, heat, or transportation fuels. This section authorizes appropriations of $12.5 million to each Secretary for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.