Ethanol Blog

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- The so-called "Farm to Fly Act" now has been reintroduced in both chambers of Congress after a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives brought the legislation back to life on Friday.

The act was largely adopted within the 2024 House Agriculture Committee farm bill and is designed to support the creation of a sustainable aviation fuel industry using existing USDA bioenergy programs and to ensure USDA's SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops.

The bill was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate One day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Trump signed an executive order freezing all federal regulations pending a 60-day review, to include the 45Z Clean Fuels Production tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The House version of the bill was introduced by Reps. Max Miller, R-Ohio; Mike Flood, R-Nebraska; Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota; Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois; Claudia Tenney, R-New York; Tracey Mann, R-Kansas; Mike Bost, R-Illinois; Don Bacon, R-Nebraska; Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa; Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota; Mark Alford, R-Missouri; Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois; Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; and Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota.

Geoff Cooper, CEO and president of the Renewable Fuels Association, said in a statement the bill is necessary to secure rural America's place in the industry.

"RFA supports this important legislation, which would bring clarity and stability to the future of sustainable aviation fuels made from U.S. crops," Cooper said.

"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."

Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance, said the legislation was important to farmers.

"The Farm to Fly Act is a game-changer for American agriculture, creating new economic opportunities while strengthening our nation's energy security," Buis said in a statement.

"By recognizing sustainable aviation fuel as an eligible resource under USDA bio-energy programs, this legislation will empower farmers, ethanol producers and rural communities to lead in the next generation of clean energy solutions."

Feenstra said the nation's farmers will play a "pivotal role" in the future of air travel.

"Homegrown biofuels are critical to American energy independence and sustainable aviation fuel is vital to the future of air travel," he said in a statement.

"By converting agricultural biomass into airplane fuel, Iowa farmers and producers will benefit from new markets and we can use domestic energy -- instead of foreign oil -- to power our planes."

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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