H.R. 4244 and S. 2576, the Clean Stove Act -

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a tax credit, up to $500, for the cost of replacing a residential wood stove with: (1) a wood-burning stove that complies with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards; and (2) a pellet or corn burning stove.

H.R. 3107 and S. 1697, the Renewable Energy Tax Parity Act of 2007 -

Sponsored by U.S. Representative Paul Hodes (D-NH) and U.S. Senator John Sununu (R-NH)

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a 30% credit for qualified biomass fuel property expenditures as part of the tax credit for residential energy efficient property. Defines "qualified biomass fuel property expenditure" as expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (i.e., any renewable plant-derived fuel) to heat a residence and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%.

Read the text of the bill here:

 H.R. 3107

S.1697

Farm Bill

The link above has the complete history and pertinent information regarding the Farm Bill, H.R. 6124, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

The main issue for HPBA in the Farm Bill is the Community Wood Energy Program.  This program authorizes a grant program for state and local governments and communities to use low-grade wood biomass in community wood energy systems for state and locally owned businesses such as schools, town halls, and courthouses.  This is another issue HPBA will be supporting and advocating for in the U.S. Senate.

Other issues of importance in the Farm Bill for HPBA members are more secondary in nature.  There are definitions of biomass which include wood and wood pellets.  This is an important first step to allowing our industry to partake in additional areas of assistance.  The Farm Bill also protect and sustains our nation’s forest resources and makes important new investments in renewable energy research, development and production in rural America.

H.R. 2206, Minimum Wage Increase

On May 25, 2007, the President signed into law a supplemental appropriationsbill (H.R. 2206, P.L. 110-28) which included an increase in the federal minimum wage.  The increase was included in the Iraq war funding bill.  Under the act, the federal minimum wage has already increased to $5.85 an hour; it increases to $6.55 one year later; and to $7.25 a year after that.