BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5597

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T08:08:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 aims to create a temporary advisory commission within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study and recommend improvements to federal policies on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). BECCS involves using plant-based materials (biomass) to produce energy while capturing and storing the resulting carbon dioxide underground to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to promote BECCS development for cleaner energy, better forest health, wildfire prevention, and economic benefits in rural areas.

Key Provisions

• Establishment and Structure: Creates the Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Advancement Commission (BECCS Commission) in the USDA. It includes 12-13 members: four federal officials (or their designees) from USDA Rural Development, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office; plus representatives from state foresters, the timber industry, state energy officials, the BECCS industry (four members), and rural counties funded under the Secure Rural Schools Act (one to two members).
• Appointment and Leadership: The USDA Secretary appoints non-federal members within 180 days of enactment, consulting relevant groups. The USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development chairs the commission (or a federal designee if unavailable). Members serve without pay but receive travel expenses. The Secretary can remove non-federal members only for cause, and vacancies are filled similarly to initial appointments.
• Operations: The commission holds its first meeting within 30 days of full appointment, meets at least quarterly, and allows remote participation. A majority of members forms a quorum for decisions, though fewer can hold hearings.
• Duties: The commission develops policy recommendations and measurable goals (metrics) to advance BECCS systems or power plants nationwide. Focus areas include benefits to local jobs, energy costs and reliability, supply chains, data center energy needs, forest health, wildfire reduction, clean energy production, and forestry economics. It must submit a comprehensive report to Congress within one year of its first meeting, covering recommendations for modernizing BECCS, federal policy changes (e.g., streamlined contracts for biomass from federal lands), and interagency coordination. Interim reports are optional.
• Powers and Support: The commission can hold hearings, request information from federal agencies (which must comply), use mail services, and accept gifts. It can hire an executive director and staff (paid up to Executive Schedule Level V, about $183,000 annually), detail federal employees without cost, and procure temporary services. The USDA Secretary, with input from Interior and Energy Secretaries, can issue regulations to implement the act.
• Termination: The commission ends 180 days after submitting its final report.
• Definitions: Specifies terms like "appropriate congressional committees" (key House and Senate panels on agriculture, energy, and resources) and allows regulation to define the "BECCS industry."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act introduces a new federal commission, which does not directly amend prior laws but builds on existing frameworks like the Secure Rural Schools Act (for county funding) and federal land management statutes. It enables recommendations for future changes, such as easier access to biomass from public lands for BECCS while maintaining wildfire and wildlife protections, potentially streamlining contracts and coordination between agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among USDA, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and others to support BECCS, potentially leading to new policies on federal land use and energy innovation. Agencies may need to provide data and staff support, increasing short-term administrative workload.
• Citizens: Could boost rural job creation in forestry and energy sectors, lower energy costs, improve reliability (e.g., for AI data centers), and reduce wildfire risks through better forest management. Benefits may focus on communities near federal lands, promoting economic development in timber-dependent areas.
• International Relations: Indirectly strengthens U.S. leadership in global clean energy technologies by advancing domestic BECCS, which could aid international climate goals (e.g., under Paris Agreement commitments), but no direct foreign policy provisions.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: USDA (lead role), Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Department of Energy (providing expertise and resources).
• Industry and Private Sector: BECCS companies (four direct representatives), commercial timber industry (involved in biomass supply).
• State and Local Governments: National Association of State Foresters, state energy officials, and rural counties receiving Secure Rural Schools funds (affected by land use and economic policies).
• Communities and Broader Public: Rural residents in forested areas, benefiting from job growth, wildfire mitigation, and clean energy access.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes an advisory body with standard federal commission powers (e.g., hearings under 5 U.S.C.), ensuring compliance with civil service and procurement rules while allowing flexibility in staffing. Recommendations could influence regulations on federal lands without overriding existing environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to create advisory commissions for policy development (Article I), promoting interbranch coordination without executive overreach.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from Republicans in Utah and California) highlights cross-party interest in energy innovation, rural economies, and climate adaptation. The temporary nature limits long-term costs, but report outcomes could spark debates on expanding federal support for bioenergy versus fossil fuels or other renewables.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
• 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
• 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-26 — PDF (11 pages)