The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House last week to foster the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) within existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, allow for greater collaboration, and ensure USDA’s SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops.
The bill was introduced by Reps. Max Miller (R-OH), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Mike Bost (R-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Mark Alford (R-MO), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Michelle Fischbach (R-MN). A Senate version was introduced in January by Senators Moran (R-KS), Grassley (R-IA), Duckworth (D-IL), Ricketts (R-NE), Klochubar (D-MN), and Ernst (R-IA).
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper thanked them for introducing the bill. “RFA supports this important legislation, which would bring clarity and stability to the future of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) made from U.S. crops. By affirming SAF’s inclusion in USDA programs and ensuring the best science is used, this bill empowers domestic agriculture to participate in the emerging SAF market.”
SAF was a big topic of discussion at RFA’s recent National Ethanol Conference. Tim Hughes with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative sat on a panel exploring ethanol’s role in aviation, as well as other heavy duty applications. He believes the opportunities for the sustainable aviation fuel is enormous on both a domestic and global scale.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty here in the United States today on what is going to be the focus of the current federal administration and depending on who you talk to, many people are optimistic,” said Hughes. “Europe, Asia, many other countries have already put the stake in the ground and have mandates in place and UPS, DHL, FedEx, many of these companies that have the international footprint have to meet those objectives. So whether we slow the progress down or hinder it here in the United States, there is an opportunity globally, and I think there’s a great place for agriculture, renewable fuels and specifically ethanol to play a part in meeting that demand.”
Listen to the panel, which also included heavy equipment and maritime opportunities for ethanol.
Ethanol’s Role in Heavy-Duty and Aviation
Brian Olson, ICE and Low Carbon Fuels Product Strategy Director, Cummins Power Systems
Felix Leworthy, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, ETFuels
Holly Mayton, Lead for Research Partnerships and Science Policy, John Deere
Tim Hughes, Project Director, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Moderator: Tad Hepner, VP, Strategy and Innovation, Renewable Fuels Association
RFANEC Heavy Duty and Aviation panel (1:18:05)