Congressman Carter, Flood Introduce the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act
Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act. This bill directs the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its weekly and monthly reports, consistent with other fuel types that the agency regularly tracks.
SAF is an alternative jet fuel made from renewable and waste feedstocks that can reduce aviation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 94%, depending on the feedstock. SAF is a "drop-in fuel,” so it is compatible with existing engines and fueling infrastructure and can be made from several feedstocks, including agricultural waste, forestry residues, algae, and recycled cooking oils, among other ingredients.
“Without coordinated action between government and industry, greenhouse gas emissions will continue to increase as more people and goods fly through our skies. Sustainable aviation fuel is an exciting, new green fuel that’s creating jobs in Louisiana,” said Rep. Carter. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure America is on track to meet the growing demand for cleaner transportation and healthier communities.”
“Nebraska remains a national leader in biofuel production and is a driving global leader in advancing the bioeconomy,” said Rep. Flood. “SAF represents just one of many promising ways to grow the biofuels sector and boost our rural communities. Our straightforward, commonsense bill requires the EIA to include SAF in its published data, giving industry leaders and stakeholders better insight into production trends. I’m grateful to my colleague for partnering with me once again to support the growth of the SAF industry.”
“Farmers are always seeking expanded market opportunities for our commodities through food, fiber, or fuel. We see the prospect of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as a great opportunity for Louisiana farmers to contribute to our domestic fuel supply through crop production,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot. “We produce an abundance of safe and sustainable food, and complementing that with demand for domestic fuel is a win-win for farmers and the economy. Congressman Carter's proactive legislation to get SAF on the right track, in terms of accurate and unbiased data reporting, should help further build out framework for this rapidly developing technology and the market it can offer. This would not only benefit our farmers, but all of Louisiana through job growth here in Louisiana. We appreciate he and Congressman Flood’s work on this issue both for farmers and consumers.”
“The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act is a tactful, practical solution that aligns with our commitment to growing our state’s all-of-the-above energy portfolio,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc. “With promising Sustainable Aviation Fuel projects already underway in the Greater New Orleans region, this bill helps to ensure that our energy and aviation industries remain competitive on the global stage. We applaud Congressman Carter for his leadership and commitment to innovation and transparency.”
“SAF may offer a great opportunity for Louisiana sugarcane farmers. Our farmers have been growing their own fuel for decades now and are anxious to find new uses for the excess biofuel (bagasse) that we currently produce. The American Sugar Cane League appreciates Congressman Carter’s bipartisan effort to gain accurate data on SAF in EIA reports – data that will track how production is actually developing and provide transparency as to whether SAF production includes products like bagasse, the fibrous byproduct of recovering sugar from the sugarcane plant,” said Jack Pettus, VP of Government Relations for the American Sugar Cane League.
“As we work to speed up the development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), real-time production and supply updates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration will offer crucial insights. These updates will play a key role in effectively scaling up SAF across the country,” said Alison Graab, Executive Director for the SAF Coalition.
“Transparent and timely market data are critically important to help the nascent SAF industry get off the ground. This legislation would ensure SAF producers and users have the information they need to make informed decisions and smart investments. The Renewable Fuels Association thanks Reps. Flood and Carter for their leadership on this issue and we strongly support their legislation,” said Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO.
“Building a strong and reliable SAF industry that supports U.S. farmers starts with access to clear, consistent market data. This bill takes an important step toward giving stakeholders the tools they need to plan, invest, and grow with confidence. The National Oilseed Processors Association appreciates Representatives Flood and Carter for recognizing this need and championing a data-driven approach to SAF development,” saidDevin Mogler, President and CEO of National Oilseed Producers Association.
“The Advanced Biofuels Association is proud to endorse the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act and to play an important part in our nation’s energy dominance agenda. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), also known as synthetic aviation fuel, is an in-demand U.S. energy export that is the latest in a long tradition of American renewable fuel innovations. This legislation will improve data streams from the U.S. Energy Information Administration that help our domestic farmers and biorefiners make informed decisions to increase SAF production levels,” said Michael McAdams, President of the Advanced Biofuels Association.
Background
The growth of SAF production and use is a major opportunity for lowering the aviation industry’s carbon footprint. Worldwide, aviation accounts for 2% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 12% of all CO2 emissions from transportation. The international aviation industry has set an aspirational goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2050. SAF presents the best near-term opportunity to meet these goals.
This straightforward, bipartisan bill would provide stakeholders with important information relating to SAF production, imports, and feedstock.
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act is endorsed by the Advanced Biofuels Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, American Sugar Cane League, Greater New Orleans Inc., Growth Energy, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, National Oilseed Producers Association, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, Nebraska Soybean Association, Renewable Fuels Association, Renewable Fuels Nebraska, and the SAF Coalition.
Read the full text of the bill here.