Ethanol champion Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) held on to her seat in Congress in a close race last week, and after declaring victory she immediately joined Sharice Davids (D-KS) in introducing legislation to extend the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit for an additional year.

“Cellulosic biofuel producers have been anxiously awaiting guidance from the Treasury Department on the new 45Z clean fuel producer tax credit that is supposed to take effect just two months from now,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “But with 2025 just around the corner, Treasury has not yet proposed regulations to implement the 45Z credit and there is no clarity on the timeline or path forward. By extending the existing tax credit for second-generation biofuels by one year, this bipartisan legislation provides marketplace certainty and allows for a smooth transition to the new tax credit regime.”

Other tax credits 45Z is supposed to replace include the $1 per gallon biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders tax credit, which is included in a package of tax credits extensions to be considered by Congress before the end of the year.

In the latest Ethanol Report podcast, Cooper said they were pleased to see so many ethanol champions like Miller-Meeks in Congress win re-election. “It was overall a very good night for ethanol in both chambers,” said Cooper.

RFA CEO Cooper on tax credit extension 3:59