The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking information on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops with the goal to qualify for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the request during the Clean Fuels Alliance America June Membership meeting in Washington DC this week. “By creating opportunities for biofuels policies to reflect climate-smart farming practices, we are enabling new markets for American producers and incentivizing more greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” said Vilsack.

Following the issuance of U.S. Treasury’s guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) tax credit, including the USDA Climate-Smart Agriculture Pilot Program, this ROI is seeking feedback on opportunities to better reflect lower GHG emissions for biofuel feedstocks grown with climate-smart practices as work is being done to provide rulemaking for the 45Z tax credit due to begin in 2025.

“We appreciate the fact that Secretary Vilsack understands the importance of having guidance for 45Z well in advance of January 1, 2025, so farmers, producers and fuel customers have the certainty to continue to produce and use low-carbon biomass-based diesel,” said Clean Fuels Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik. “While this request for information will have broader applications than just guidance on next year’s Clean Fuel Production Credit, it can inform the modeling and measurement of lifecycle carbon scores at the center of the credit. As Secretary Vilsack noted, farmers are already employing practices that continually improve the environmental profile of their operations and the carbon lifecycle for clean fuel production. We welcome his call for our industry to get that message to other federal stakeholders.”

The Request for Information will be published in the Federal Register and comments may be submitted starting June 27 until the end of the 30-day public comment period on July 26, 2024.