Ernst Calls Out the Biden Administration for Picking Winners and Losers in the Updated GREET Model Announcement
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has long worked to ensure the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model qualifies as an eligible methodology when calculating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits.
Today, nearly two months past the Biden administration’s self-imposed deadline, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and the SAF Interagency Working Group released an updated version of the GREET model to be used for SAF credits. However, the updated model would unfairly penalize certain domestic feedstocks used for the development of SAF—particularly corn and soybeans.
“The Biden administration is deciding to play politics with what crops can be used in the SAF market and unfairly penalizing domestic producers for their farming practices,” said Ernst. “This decision will ultimately hinder America’s ability to compete in this new alternative fuel market and force our country to be more reliant on foreign feedstocks for expanded biofuel production. I will continue pushing back on the greenies in Biden’s White House and demand that Iowa farmers have a seat at the table.”
Background:
Ernst has long supported efforts to strengthen the sustainable aviation fuel market for Iowa farmers.
In February 2024, Ernst urged the Biden administration to continue embracing the GREET model for assessing the lifecycle emissions of biofuel feedstocks. Instead of bolstering support for domestic crops and releasing the updates in a timely manner, the Biden administration largely ignored the bipartisan letter.
In January 2024, Ernst helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act to accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. This legislation would also codify the GREET model and SAF definition into law.
In June 2023, Ernst joined her colleagues in introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act to identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, this would prevent the federal government from penalizing the agriculture sector and biofuel producers by using the GREET model to assess production practices.
In June 2023, Ernst also sent a letter calling on Treasury to adopt the GREET model when calculating SAF credits—critical for enhancing our domestic energy security and rewarding farmers for improved land use practices.
In October 2023, Ernst joined a group of senators to introduce the Adopt GREET Act, which would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply the GREET model to any fuel given an approved pathway and deemed qualified for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
In the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, Ernst secured a pilot project to promote the use of SAF at military installations.
###
