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Vilsack calls Tuesday’s GREET model a placeholder

The U.S. Ag Secretary says the U.S. Treasury’s guidance for the modeling used to measure transportation emissions for sustainable aviation fuel is expected out this week.

Secretary Tom Vilsack tells Brownfield on Tuesday GREET modeling details will help clear the air on how farmers can benefit from sustainable aviation fuel production tax credits.

“That’s why it’s important not to focus on rumor, but to actually wait until the Treasury Department issues the guidance,” he says. “It’s the Treasury Department issuing this. It’s not the EPA.”

He says the model is expected to serve as a placeholder in the 40B tax credit which applies to a small amount of the fuel in production this year.

“There’s a 45Z credit, which is a pretty good credit, it provides quite the financial incentive to produce this fuel,” he says. “To qualify for that, I’m confident there will be climate-smart agricultural opportunities.”

He says USDA will be a significant driver of additional developments for the aviation fuel market and make sure climate agriculture opportunities are included.

Vilsack and House Ag Committee Member Elissa Slotkin hosted a fireside chat with Michigan farmers Friday.