(e) A per-ton grant may be provided pursuant to this chapter only if the applicant is the “end-user” of agricultural biomass. For purposes of this subdivision, “end user” means a person who uses agricultural biomass for any of the following purposes:

1. (1) Processing.
2. (2) Generating energy.
3. (3) Manufacturing.
4. (4) Exporting.
5. (5) Preventing erosion.
6. (6) Any other environmentally sound purpose, excluding open-field burning, as determined to be appropriate by the department.

(f) Criteria to be considered by the department in determining whether to award a grant pursuant to this chapter shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

1. (1) Quantity of biomass to be utilized.
2. (2) Whether the proposed use offers other environmental or public policy benefits, including but not limited to, landfill avoidance, pollution prevention, electrical generation, and sustainability.
3. (3) The degree to which the proposed grant would assist in moving the commodity group toward an eventual free market utilization of biomass without the assistance of government.