Former USDA Under Secretary and currently CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinney is optimistic about the future of sustainable aviation fuel as a market for U.S. biofuels, provided they have the opportunity under the upcoming 45Z tax credit. “Our ethanol and our soy diesel and renewable diesel and all the folks that are doing …
USDA Gets Climate Smart Farming Feedback
The U.S. Department of Agriculture received lots of input from biofuels groups this week on how to prove the impact of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) net emissions estimates associated with the production of domestic agricultural commodities used as biofuel feedstocks, in response to a Federal Register request last month. The Request for Information is expected to …
Corn Grower Testifies on Farm Financial Conditions
The president of the Minnesota Corn Growers told the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday that farmers in her state and across the country need the support of a reauthorized and strengthened farm bill. “Unless conditions change, I believe we’re heading into a perfect storm, a storm that I don’t think will be fully appreciated until early next year when farmers try …
Agency Seeks Tech to Lower Emissions for Ethanol
The Energy Department is looking for ways to cut the carbon intensity of ethanol production in half by lowering use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on crops, and they are putting up $36 million to develop the technologies to do that. DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced the funding in the effort to lower nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by …
SAF Roundtable in Vancouver
Representatives of the U.S. biofuels industry, including Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Government Affairs Ed Hubbard, joined a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) policy roundtable in Vancouver, Canada recently on the sidelines of a USDA agribusiness trade mission. The U.S. Grains Council and Advanced Biofuels Canada hosted the roundtable that included remarks from USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural …
USDA Seeks Climate Smart Biofuel Feedstocks Data
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 …
Iowa Grants Approval for Summit Carbon Pipeline
The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) granted approval this week for the Summit Carbon Solutions base pipeline project in the state. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw applauded the decision, which follows a public docket open almost three years and the longest public hearing in the history of IUB. “Today’s decision creates monumental opportunities for Iowa farmers faced with …
45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit Guidance Issued
The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance Friday for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. The guidance divides transportation fuel into two broad categories – sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and non-SAF transportation fuel and notes that a taxpayer must have a signed registration letter from the IRS “dated on or before …
House Farm Bill Includes SAF Provisions
The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 that advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee last week includes provisions for Sustainable Aviation Fuel under the Energy Title (IX). The title “(a)ffirms sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced biofuel” as seen in H.R.6271 – Farm to Fly Act of 2023. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition Executive Director Alison Graab …
Groups Urge Treasury to Finalize Clean Fuels Credit
Over two dozen organizations representing all segments of the renewable fuels industry sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week urging her to finalize and publish guidance for the §45Z Clean Fuels Production Credit as soon as possible. The credit, which was created in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to incentivize domestic production of low-carbon fuels …