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ASA, Clean Fuels and others ask administration to level the playing field for SAF
Some ag groups have asked the Biden administration to accurately assess the environmental benefits of feed stocks that produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The American Soybean Association and Clean Fuels Alliance America along with the National Oilseed Processors Association and US Canola Association have sent a letter to a senior advisor urging the administration to use the GREET, Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation, model that would determine SAF tax credit eligibility.
Dave Walton, an Iowa farmer on the ASA Board of Directors, says the GREET model would measure the carbon intensity score of soybeans, and could help incentivize companies to ramp up SAF production if they receive additional tax credits. “The other model that has been proposed actually disadvantages oilseed crops and soybeans specifically, which would effectively shut us out of the SAF market.”
He tells Brownfield soybeans need a seat at the table to help meet the Administration’s goal of producing 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030. “If soybeans and canola are excluded from being used as a feedstock for SAF, there isn’t really enough feedstock to create SAF, which would put a huge damper on that market.”
Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with Clean Fuels, says it’s inconceivable that Congress and Treasury would implement incentives that doesn’t account for sustainable, homegrown feedstocks.
Attempting to make and use biofuels for jet aircraft engines, not because it is technilogical improvement, but because it might have a better carbin credit score could be very prooblematic. First there is the competing model which says that it does not improve carbon score. There is slso the fact that this proposed jet biofuel is not available to be long term studied in the aircraft jet engines both in the lab and at 40,000 feet., takeoffs, landings, etc. To wit, there is no compelling technological reason to do this. Furthermore, the very idea that edible crops should be turned into jet fuel when there are food and feed shortages in the world and perfectly fine jet fuel is currently being used, reeks of an unproven political agenda which could very easily turn out to be disasterous.