Business aviation SAF coalition urges consistency in USDA rules for biofuel feedstocks

A Business Aviation Coalition Urges Biden Administration to Follow Biofuel Approach for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

A business aviation coalition has called on the Biden administration to follow the approach the government uses for existing biofuel programs when it develops rules to quantify and verify greenhouse gas emissions from various feedstocks for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

USDA’s Efforts to Encourage Climate-Friendly Farming Practices for SAF Feedstocks

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments as it tries to encourage the use of climate-friendly farming practices to develop SAF feedstocks. The Biden administration’s SAF Grand Challenge aims to have the U.S. producing 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030.

Coalition’s Letter to USDA’s Office of Energy and Environmental Policy

In a recent letter to the USDA’s Office of Energy and Environmental Policy, the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel urged the agency to largely follow the approach used with the Renewable Fuel Standard and other existing biofuel audit programs as it develops its rule detailing how companies should quantify, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions associated with SAF production.

“The BizAv SAF Coalition encourages the Department to enable as much adaptability and flexibility in its framework as is practicable and encourages the USDA to embrace a performance-based approach in its analysis, focusing on outcomes rather than prescriptive and exclusionary lists of acceptable feedstocks,” the coalition said in its letter.

Importance of the Right Approach and Flexibility for Meeting SAF Grand Challenge Goals

Without the right approach and flexibility with the greenhouse gas rules, the U.S. will not be able to meet the SAF Grand Challenge goals, the coalition said. “It is likely that we will only achieve those goals through the existing scale and capabilities of U.S. agriculture through access to sustainable crop-based feedstocks,” the coalition said.

Impact of Greenhouse Gas Rules on Clean Fuel Production Credit

When finalized, the greenhouse gas rules will impact how SAF producers can take advantage of the Clean Fuel Production Credit enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
   • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally
   • Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
– Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
– Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
– Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, based on the targets identified, the following indicators can be used to measure progress:
– Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
– Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
– Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: biofuels-news.com