(a) Membership.  There is hereby established a special study commission to study the feasibility and effectiveness of various forms of incentives to promote the development and use of advanced biofuels in the state including, but not limited to: production credits, the production and harvesting of woody biomass or woody residue, feedstock incentives, and direct consumer credits for the use of advanced biofuels in various applications. Said commission shall be known as the Biofuels Study Commission and shall be comprised of fifteen (15) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, not more than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; three (3) of whom shall be members of the senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the senate president; one of whom shall be the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be employed by an independent organization in the field of the environment and fuels, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be the director of the office of energy resources, or his or her designee; three (3) of whom shall be employed by companies that work in and/or who themselves work in the field of advanced biofuels, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and one of whom shall be from the University of Rhode Island cooperative extension, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

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(b) Purpose.  The purpose of the commission shall be to investigate and develop a strategy to increase the use of advanced biofuels as alternatives to conventional carbon-based fuels by the state, its agencies and political subdivisions and regional transit authorities, and also to promote the use of such fuels in all sectors of the state, both private and public. In conducting its investigation and study, the commission shall consider biofuel incentive programs in other states and the states’ relative competitiveness in the field.

(c) Information furnished.  All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish any advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to the commission and its agents that is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

(d)  The commission shall report to the general assembly on the results of its investigations and study and its recommendations, if any, on or before January 23, 2012, and at least every two (2) years thereafter on its continued findings and the results of its studies, and shall make such recommendations to the general assembly as it deems advisable.