Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has introduced a bill that includes a section requiring the Secretary of Energy to enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences to evaluate the feasibility of prizes to promote the development of farms that are net producers of both food and energy.
110th CONGRESS,1st Session H. R. 80
To provide for Federal research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities to enable the development of farms that are net producers of both food and energy, and for other purposes.
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(4) SELF-POWERED FARM- The term `self-powered farm’ means a farm or collection of farms that–
(A) is capable of independence from offsite sources of energy, fuel, and raw materials for fuel;
(B) is a community resource for–
(i) food; and
(ii) energy, fuel, or raw materials for fuel;
(C) minimizes or eliminates ongoing operating expenditures to offsite entities for fossil fuel-derived energy;
(D) employs sustainable farming practices for long term soil fertility; and
(E) produces at least 2 times as much energy, including fuel or raw materials for fuel, as it consumes both on site and in the transfer of farm products to market.
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SEC. 3. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RECOMMENDATIONS.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for–
(1) the development of recommendations for appropriate evaluation measures and criteria for the programs under this Act; and
(2) an evaluation of the feasibility of prize and best practices award programs as tools to promote self-powered farms, and recommendations for how to carry out such programs, if feasible.
(b) Report- Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report containing the recommendations and evaluation described in subsection (a).