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4/30/2024

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance to Drive American Innovation, Cut Aviation Sector Emissions |…

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance to Drive
American Innovation, Cut Aviation Sector Emissions
April 30, 2024

Biden-Harris Administration Partners Announce Updated GREET Model to Measure Lifecycle
Emissions from Sustainable Aviation Fuels
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit

established by the

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), part of President Bidenʼs Investing in America agenda to create
good-paying jobs and reduce climate pollution by spurring innovation in the aviation industry.
The Treasury Department worked closely with Biden-Harris Administration partners, including
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT),
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of Energy (DOE) on todayʼs Notice.
“President Bidenʼs Inflation Reduction Act is driving American innovation to create goodpaying jobs and help the U.S. clear hurdles in our clean energy transition,” said U.S. Secretary
of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Incentives in the law are helping to scale production of lowcarbon fuels and cut emissions from the aviation sector, one of the most di icult-totransition sectors of our economy. Todayʼs guidance provides additional clarity and certainty
to companies and producers.”
“Sustainable aviation fuel is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration's e orts to
transition the American economy to a clean energy future and rebuild the middle class from
the bottom up to the middle out in rural America,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom
Vilsack. “Todayʼs announcement is an important stepping stone as it acknowledges the
important role farmers can play in lowering greenhouse gas emissions and begins to reward
them through that contribution in the production of new fuels. This is a great beginning as we
develop new markets for sustainable aviation fuel that use home grown agricultural crops
produced using climate smart agricultural practices. USDA will continue to work with our
federal agency partners to expand opportunities in the future for climate smart agriculture in
producing sustainable aviation fuel.”

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U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance to Drive American Innovation, Cut Aviation Sector Emissions |…

“The guidance released today reflects the latest data and science needed to help create new
economic opportunities for America's agricultural sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy
Jennifer M. Granholm. “This interagency e ort will help our climate goals take flight with
cheaper, cleaner sustainable aviation fuel -- ensuring America maintains an innovative edge on
the global clean technology stage.”
“Innovation in the aviation sector has brought our country and our world together and now,
itʼs fueling the solution to meet our ambitious net-zero carbon emission goals,” said U.S.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “Todayʼs announcement will strengthen
Americaʼs position as a leader in the production of sustainable aviation fuels, help cut carbon
emissions, and create a better future for all Americans.”
“The Inflation Reduction Actʼs tax credit for sustainable aviation fuels is a critical tool for
decarbonizing air travel,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for
International Climate Policy. “Todayʼs announcement of an updated GREET model and
Treasury guidance is a big step forward for American farmers, for American innovation, for
American jobs, and for Americaʼs ability to cut carbon pollution from our transportation sector
and protect our planet.”
The Treasury Departmentʼs guidance provides important clarity around eligibility for the SAF
Credit. The credit incentivizes the production of SAF that achieves a lifecycle greenhouse gas
emissions reduction of at least 50% as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel. Producers of
SAF are eligible for a tax credit of $1.25 to $1.75 per gallon. SAF that achieves a GHG
emissions reduction of 50% is eligible for the $1.25 credit per gallon amount, and SAF that
achieves a GHG emissions reduction of more than 50% is eligible for an additional $0.01 per
gallon for each percentage point the reduction exceeds 50%, up to $0.50 per gallon.
As part of todayʼs guidance, the agencies comprising the SAF Interagency Working Group
(IWG) are jointly announcing the 40B SAF-GREET 2024 model. This model provides another
methodology for SAF producers to determine the lifecycle GHG emissions rates of their
production for the purposes of the SAF Credit.
The modified version of GREET incorporates new data, including updated modeling of key
feedstocks and processes used in aviation fuel and indirect emissions. The modified GREET
model also integrates key greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies such as carbon
capture and storage, renewable natural gas, and renewable electricity.

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U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance to Drive American Innovation, Cut Aviation Sector Emissions |…

The Notice released today also, on a pilot basis, incorporates a USDA pilot program to
encourage the use of certain Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices for SAF feedstocks.
Incorporating CSA practices into the production of SAF provides multiple benefits, including
lower overall GHG emissions associated with SAF production and increased adoption of
farming practices that are associated with other environmental benefits, such as improved
water quality and soil health.
For corn ethanol-to-jet, the pilot provides a greenhouse gas reduction credit if a “bundle” of
certain CSA practices (no-till, cover crop, and enhanced e iciency fertilizer) are used. It
similarly would allow a greenhouse gas reduction credit for soybean-to-jet if the soybean
feedstock is produced using a “bundle” of applicable CSA practices (no-till and cover crop).
This is a pilot program specific to the 40B credit, which is in e ect for 2023 and 2024.
To credit CSA practices in the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z), which becomes available in
2025, the agencies will do further work on modeling, data, and assumptions, as well as
verification. A new 45Z-GREET will be developed for use with the 45Z tax credit.
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