On April 8, the Biomass Thermal Energy Council released a statement asking biomass supporters to take action by contacting their elected legislators and asking them to support the inclusion of the Biomass Thermal Utilization Act in legislation being considered by the U.S. Senate.

According to the BTEC, an opportunity has presented itself to pass the BTU Act is conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. The BTEC noted negotiations are continuing over a package of energy tax provisions that would be rolled up into a “manager’s amendment” and voted on this week. According to the BTEC, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Kelly Ayotte, R- N.H; Angus King, I-Maine; and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have been negotiating with Senate leadership to have BTU Act provisions included in this energy package. “These are high-level, closed door, member-to-member discussions that represent our best hope in securing passage of our tax incentive for biomass thermal technologies,” said the BTEC in its statement.

The BTEC is asking biomass supporters to contact their senators and ask for their support to include the BTU Act amendment in the Senate’s manager’s amendment to the FAA bill, or S. 2658, which is being attached to the American’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015, or H.R. 636.

In its statement, BTEC outlines several talking points that can be included in the message. Additional information is available on the BTEC website.