News

GREET model updates coming soon

The president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association says questions remain on how the Biden administration is modifying a lifecycle model that measures the carbon footprint of renewable fuels.

Geoff Cooper says it’s unclear how changes to the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Technologies or GREET model will affect the carbon intensity values of Sustainable Aviation Fuel made from corn ethanol, but the U.S. ethanol industry should know by March 1.

“The modified GREET model will either help open the door for U.S. agriculture and ethanol producers to participate in the SAF market or it will lock out the highest volume, lowest cost feedstocks and ensure the failure of this administration’s ambitious SAF goals.”

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says several agencies are getting a say as updates are being made and climate-smart agriculture practices by farmers should be recognized.

“In fairness, it should be allowed to be calculated in the determination whether SAF meets the threshold of a significant reduction in the carbon footprint versus existing jet fuel.”

Vilsack says once tax credit guidance is issued, there will be a lot of interest in producing SAF.

“The fact that there’s now a commercial-sized operation functioning, what’s happening next is that’s going to be replicated and scaled up…and before you know it, you’ve got facilities across the country at various levels and sizes.”

Cooper says the updated GREET model alone doesn’t guarantee a bright future for corn ethanol in the SAF market, but getting the model right would be a good first step in the process.

And Cooper says the Biden administration’s final action on the modified GREET model could also set the tone for other clean fuel production credits set to go into effect in January 2025.