RFA Thanks Lawmakers for Bipartisan SAF Legislation Promoting Ethanol

(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and others for the introduction in the House of the Farm to Fly Act, which would help sustainable aviation fuels create new markets for America’s farmers. Among its provisions, the bill would affirm a common definition of SAF for USDA purposes, as widely supported by industry and congressional leaders to enable U.S. crops to most effectively contribute to aviation renewable fuels via renewable fuels like ethanol.

Original co-sponsors for the bill include Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA).

“RFA strongly supports the Farm to Fly Act,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We applaud the determined efforts of Rep. Miller—along with cosponsors Reps. Flood, Craig, Finstad, Budzinski, Crockett, Hinson and Feenstra—to introduce this important legislation, which creates more clarity and stability around the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) made from U.S. crops. By ensuring the best available science and modeling tools are used to calculate the carbon benefits of homegrown renewable fuels, this bill helps position SAF for takeoff.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate this week would help accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The Farm to Fly Act, sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), would use existing USDA programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said they strongly support the Farm to Fly Act. “We truly appreciate Sen. Moran—along with cosponsors Sens. Klobuchar and Ernst—and their effort to move forward this important legislation that creates more clarity and stability around the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) made from U.S. crops,” said Cooper. “This bill helps position SAF for takeoff by ensuring the best available science and modeling tools are used to calculate the carbon benefits of homegrown renewable fuels.”

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill), Angie Craig (D-Minn), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Brad Finstad (R-Minn), Mike Flood (R-Neb) and Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa). This legislation is also supported by a number of aviation, agriculture and energy leaders. READ MORE

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: Growth Energy has spoken out in support of the bill. “The path to decarbonizing the skies runs right through America’s heartland,” said Emily Skor, Growth Energy CEO. “The Farm to Fly Act would allow our farmers to drive a wave of new investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). We thank Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Ernst for introducing this important legislation in the Senate and urge all lawmakers to get behind a bill that would position America as a leader in SAF and create new jobs in America’s rural communities.”

Biorefining company Gevo also supports the Farm to Fly Act. “America’s farmers are well-positioned to supply sustainable agriculture feedstocks that will help scale production of the sustainable aviation fuel in demand by airlines today,” said Lindsay Fitzgerald, vice president of government relations at Gevo. “The Farm to Fly Act recognizes agriculture is key to enabling cleaner flight, including using a data-driven tool to account for the benefits of farmers’ production practices with the Argonne GREET model. Gevo thanks Senators Jerry Moran, Amy Klobuchar and Joni Ernst for their leadership and supports this legislation that affirms the role of farmers in growing these new fuels.” READ MORE