Sponsors (6)
The bill promotes domestic production and commercialization of lower‑carbon sustainable aviation fuels—creating new markets and clearer standards for farmers and biofuel producers and reducing aviation emissions—while raising risks of higher taxpayer costs, feedstock-driven food and environmental impacts, and uneven benefits that may exclude some producers without dedicated funding or safeguards.
Farmers, foresters, and domestic biofuel producers gain new market demand and clearer eligibility for federal support (including Section 9003 and USDA bioenergy programs), improving financing and commercialization prospects for SAF projects.
Transportation and energy sectors see a push toward lower‑carbon jet fuels by defining SAF with a ≥50% lifecycle GHG reduction and expanding program purposes to include SAF, which can reduce aviation emissions over time.
Producers and certifiers gain clearer technical and lifecycle standards (ASTM D7566 pathways, CORSIA/GREET determinations) and USDA coordination, reducing regulatory uncertainty and helping align public and private action to commercialize SAF.
Increased demand for specific SAF feedstocks could raise food and commodity prices and divert crops or land from food production, and could drive land‑use change or higher water use with negative local environmental impacts.
Taxpayers could face higher costs if USDA programs or Section 9003 sees increased demand for subsidies, loan guarantees, or other support for SAF projects, even though no new funding amounts are specified in the bill.
Strict eligibility rules (≥50% lifecycle GHG threshold) and feedstock prohibitions plus certification requirements may exclude some existing producers and impose compliance costs, reducing eligible supply and raising SAF costs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 16, 2025 by Jerry Moran · Last progress January 16, 2025
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explicitly include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in existing USDA bioenergy programs, adds a statutory definition and sustainability test for SAF, and directs USDA leadership to coordinate actions to accelerate SAF development, commercialization, and agricultural participation. The changes expand program purposes and eligible product lists but do not appropriate new funds or create new grant programs or deadlines.