PRIA Logo™
HR3253119th CongressWALLET

Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

Introduced

Summary

Expanded federal support for biorefineries and renewable chemical production. The bill creates competitive grants and lets the Department of Agriculture offer loan guarantees year-round to back pilot and demonstration-scale projects that convert renewable biomass into advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products. It also sets selection rules and scoring priorities for projects and adds funding to the program.

Show full summary
  • Farmers and rural communities: Opens new market demand for agricultural biomass and feedstocks, boosting rural economic development potential and local jobs near project sites.
  • Developers and manufacturers: Creates a competitive grant program that can cover up to 60 percent of project costs and lets non-Federal partners contribute cash or material (material capped at 30 percent of the non-Federal share). Loan guarantees remain available and may be offered year-round, and proven technologies can get waivers for some feasibility studies.
  • Energy and environment: Explicitly includes ultra-low‑carbon and zero‑carbon bioethanol among advanced biofuels. Project scoring weighs contributions to domestic energy security and expected environmental and public health impacts.
  • Federal program and funding: Establishes a grant selection and feasibility framework and adds $100 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to support pilot and demonstration projects, subject to available funds.

*Adds $100 million per year in authorized funding for 2026–2030, increasing federal spending authority for these biorefinery grants and guarantees.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Broader eligibility for advanced biofuels

If enacted, the program would clearly cover advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased manufacturing. That includes ultra-low-carbon and zero-carbon bioethanol. Projects making these products could apply for program support.

New grants for pilot biorefineries

If enacted, the Secretary would offer competitive grants to build or retrofit pilot and demo biorefineries. Grants could cover up to 60% of project costs. Your non-Federal share could be cash or materials, but materials could be no more than 30% of that share. An independent feasibility study would be required, unless a proven technology gets a waiver. Applications would be scored on market potential, private funding, innovation, partnerships, environmental and rural benefits, and energy security. The bill would authorize $100 million each year for FY2026 through FY2030. It would also extend the program’s statutory year reference to 2030. Awards would depend on available funding and meeting the minimum score.

Year-round loan guarantees for biorefineries

If enacted, the Secretary would make loan guarantees for eligible biorefinery projects available year-round, when funds are available. Projects would still need to show technical and economic feasibility. The Secretary could waive a detailed feasibility study for proven, commercially available technologies. This change would not add new money by itself.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

IA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation