Sponsors (6)
The bill promotes domestic SAF production and market clarity to spur rural economic growth, emissions reductions, and energy security, but it raises risks of higher consumer and taxpayer costs, environmental harms from increased biomass demand, administrative complexity, and uneven distribution of benefits.
Farmers, foresters, and rural communities gain new market demand and revenue opportunities as USDA programs and program eligibility explicitly support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feedstocks and biorefinery investment, creating local jobs and business activity.
Consumers and the climate benefit from SAF pathways that must meet at least a 50% lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction, which can lower aviation lifecycle emissions if SAF is adopted at scale.
Fuel producers, investors, and airlines gain clearer regulatory definitions (a defined SAF category, ASTM alignment, and lifecycle accounting rules), reducing compliance uncertainty and encouraging investment and commercialization.
Low‑income consumers and broader households may face higher food and feed prices because increased demand for agricultural feedstocks could compete with food production and raise commodity prices.
Expanded biomass and feedstock production for SAF risks adverse environmental impacts—including land‑use change, biodiversity loss, and increased water stress—if sustainability safeguards are insufficient.
Federal spending, subsidies, or reallocation of USDA program resources toward SAF could increase fiscal costs for taxpayers and reduce funding available for other rural or advanced biofuel programs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Allows USDA bioenergy programs to include sustainable aviation fuel by defining SAF, requiring ≥50% lifecycle GHG reduction, and directing a USDA Farm to Fly coordination initiative.
Introduced January 16, 2025 by Jerry Moran · Last progress January 16, 2025
Adds sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into USDA bioenergy programs by defining SAF and related terms, setting a minimum 50% lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirement, and directing USDA to launch a cross‑agency “Farm to Fly” coordination effort to expand SAF development, commercialization, and market opportunities for agriculture and rural communities.