I’ll be there for you: The Farm to Fly Act returns courtesy of the six bioeconomy Friends

Back in the 1990s, it was Central Perk, and Ross, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Rachel and Monica. Today it’s probably something like a hot dish potluck in a cosy living room with Chuck, Pete, Jerry, Joni, Amy and Tammy — someone always remembers the bacon-wrapped corn dogs, and it’s all Midwestern nice, even though we’re somewhere deep in the legislative side of Washington, DC, the part where the swamp’s been drained.  The six bioeconomy Friends have done it again — singing “I’ll be there for you” to ethanol, advanced biofuels, soybeans, and SAF, baby, SAF.

Yes, in Washington, US Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) reintroduced legislation to accelerate the production and development of sustainable aviation fuel through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. The Farm to Fly Act would expand alternative fuels’ use in the aviation sector and unlock new markets for American farmers.

“Homegrown biofuels are good for Americans’ pocketbooks, the environment and national security,” Grassley said. “By investing in sustainable aviation fuel, the Farm to Fly Act will expand markets for farmers, onshore American energy production and drive economic growth.”

“Sustainable aviation fuel is a promising alternative fuel source that can provide new markets for farmers while increasing our domestic energy production and security,” Moran said. “This legislation would increase the accessibility of biofuels for commercial use and directly support rural America and its farmers, the agriculture industry and the aviation sector.”

The Farm to Fly Act would:

• Clarify SAF eligibility in USDA Bio-Energy Programs to expand markets for American agricultural crops in aviation bioenergy;
• Encourage greater collaboration on aviation biofuels throughout USDA agency mission areas to drive private sector partnerships; and
• Require USDA to adopt a common definition of SAF to ensure American crops effectively contribute to aviation renewable fuels.

It goes without saying, but we’ll mention it anyways, that the bill has garnered support from stakeholders across the agriculture, energy and aviation sectors. You can read the comments of a zillion influential stakeholders, here.