Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act

To support the sustainable aviation fuel market, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act 2. National goal It is hereby declared that it is the national goal for the United States to reach— (1) a net 35-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for United States domestic and international aviation flights by 2035, as compared to 2005; and (2) net zero greenhouse gas emissions for United States domestic and international aviation flights by 2050. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Sustainable aviation fuel The term sustainable aviation fuel (A) meets the requirements of a Department of Defense specification for military jet fuel or an American Society of Testing and Materials specification for aviation turbine fuel; (B) is derived from qualified feedstock; and (C) is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator that such fuel— (i) either— (I) conforms to the standards, recommended practices, requirements and criteria, supporting documents, implementation elements, and any other technical guidance for sustainable aviation fuels that are adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; or (II) meets the definition of advanced biofuel 42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1) (ii) achieves at least a 50-percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. (2) Qualified feedstock The term qualified feedstock (3) Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions The term lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (4) Induced land-use change emissions The term induced land-use change emissions (5) Conventional jet fuel The term conventional jet fuel 4. Grant program (a) In general The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out a competitive grant and cost-sharing agreement program for eligible entities to carry out projects located in the United States to produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuel. (b) Selection In selecting an eligible entity to receive a grant or cost-share agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— (1) the anticipated public benefits of a project proposed by the eligible entity; (2) the potential to increase the domestic production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel; (3) the potential greenhouse gas emissions from such project; (4) the potential for creating new jobs in the United States; (5) the potential net greenhouse gas emissions impact of different feedstocks to produce sustainable aviation fuel on a lifecycle basis, which shall include potential direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (including resulting from changes in land use); and (6) the proposed utilization of non-Federal contributions by the eligible entity. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section. (d) Report Not later than October 1, 2029, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the grant program under this section. The report shall include the following: (1) A description of the entities and projects that received grants or other cost-sharing agreements under this section. (2) A detailed explanation for why each entity received the type of funding disbursement such entity did. (3) A description of whether the program is leading to an increase in the production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and whether that increase is enough to keep the United States on track to achieve the goals described in section 2 of this Act. (4) A description of the economic impacts resulting from the funding to and operation of the project. (e) Eligible entity defined In this section, the term eligible entity (1) a State or local government other than an airport sponsor; (2) an air carrier; (3) an airport sponsor; and (4) a person or entity engaged in the production, transportation, blending or storage of sustainable aviation fuel in the United States or feedstocks in the United States that could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. 5. Low carbon aviation fuel standard (a) Establishment of low carbon aviation fuel standard Section 211 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545 (w) Low carbon aviation fuel standard (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Aviation fuel The term aviation fuel (B) Carbon intensity The term carbon intensity (C) Credit exchange The term credit exchange (D) Fuel standard The term fuel standard (2) Establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to establish a low carbon fuel standard for aviation fuels that requires a reduction in carbon intensity for aviation fuels each calendar year such that by 2050, and thereafter, the average carbon intensity of all aviation fuel used annually in the United States is reduced by at least 50 percent, as compared to the average carbon intensity of all aviation fuel used in the United States in 2005. (3) Targets In promulgating regulations under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall set a target of a reduction of at least 20 percent in the average carbon intensity of all aviation fuel used annually in the United States by 2030, and of at least 50 percent by 2050, as compared to the average carbon intensity of all aviation fuel used in the United States in 2005. (4) Requirements In promulgating regulations under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall— (A) establish a benchmark for the average carbon intensity of aviation fuels for each calendar year, beginning with the first full calendar year that begins 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, suitable to achieving the targets specified in paragraph (3); (B) apply the fuel standard to persons who produce or import aviation fuel; (C) establish procedures for calculating the carbon intensity of an aviation fuel, expressed in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule, in accordance with— (i) the standards, recommended practices, requirements and criteria, supporting documents, implementation elements, and any other technical guidance for sustainable aviation fuels that are adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; and (ii) any other more stringent accounting practices determined by the Administrator to be the best lifecycle greenhouse gas emission accounting practices, provided that such practices account for the aggregate quantity of greenhouse gas emissions (including direct emissions and significant indirect emissions such as significant emissions from land use changes), as determined by the Administrator, related to the full fuel lifecycle, including all stages of fuel and feedstock production and distribution, from feedstock generation or extraction through the distribution and delivery and use of the finished fuel to the ultimate consumer, where the mass values for all greenhouse gases are adjusted to account for their relative global warming potential; (D) determine how long the calculation of the carbon intensity of an aviation fuel (pursuant to the procedures established under subparagraph (C)), will remain in effect before needing to be reevaluated; (E) allow a person described in subparagraph (B), who, for a calendar year, produces or imports aviation fuel— (i) that has an average carbon intensity that is less than the benchmark for average carbon intensity for that calendar year to, except as provided in paragraph (8), generate credits, to be used, or transferred to another person, to demonstrate compliance with this subsection; and (ii) that has an average carbon intensity that is greater than the benchmark for average carbon intensity for that calendar year to purchase credits to be used to demonstrate compliance with this subsection; (F) determine the— (i) appropriate amount of credits generated and used to demonstrate compliance pursuant to subparagraph (E); (ii) appropriate conditions, if any, on— (I) the duration of such credits; and (II) the transfer of such credits through a credit exchange; and (G) consult with all relevant stakeholders, including aviation industry groups, renewable fuel industry groups, researchers at institutions of higher education, labor unions, consumer advocates, and any other stakeholders the Administrator determines to be appropriate. (5) Consultation In carrying out this subsection, the Administrator shall consult with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Agriculture. (6) Coordination with states The Administrator shall, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, waive application of the fuel standard in any State that has adopted a standard for aviation fuels that the Administrator determines is at least as stringent as the fuel standard. (7) Revision If Congress enacts a standard or similar law that the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, determines accomplishes the purposes of the fuel standard for sectors of the economy that include the aviation sector, the Administrator may revoke the fuel standard in favor of the other standard or law. (8) Relationship to renewable fuel program No credit may be generated under this subsection with respect to renewable fuel for which a credit is generated under subsection (o). (9) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report describing— (A) the status of the development of the fuel standard; and (B) the considerations the Administrator is using in developing the fuel standard. . (b) Enforcement Section 211(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545(d) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking or (o) of this section or the regulations (o), or (w) of this section or the regulations (B) by striking or (o) of this section or who fails (o), or (w) of this section or who fails (C) by striking or (o) of this section which establishes (o), or (w) of this section which establishes (2) in paragraph (2), by striking and (o) of this section (o), and (w) of this section 6. Procurement of sustainable aviation fuel by the department of defense (a) In general Effective October 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense shall make a bulk purchase of an amount of sustainable aviation fuel that is not less than 10 percent of the total amount of aviation fuel procured for operational purposes (as defined in section 2922h of title 10, United States Code) if— (1) the cost of sustainable aviation fuel is competitive with the fully burdened cost of conventional jet fuel available for the same purpose; and (2) the sustainable aviation fuel is refined or produced in the United States. (b) Blended fuel If the Secretary of Defense purchases sustainable aviation fuel that is blended with conventional jet fuel, the percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in such blend will be counted towards the percentage described in subsection (a). (c) Certification Before making a purchase under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary concerned (as defined in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code) shall certify that the sustainable aviation fuel is suitable for use in aircrafts of the Department of Defense. (d) Waiver (1) In general Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement under subsection (a) for reasons of national security, including the lack of available, qualifying sustainable aviation fuel. (2) Notice Not later than 30 days after issuing a waiver under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code) notice of the waiver. Any such notice shall include each of the following: (A) The rationale of the Secretary for issuing the waiver. (B) A certification that the waiver is in the national security interest of the United States. (e) Definitions The terms fully burdened cost operational purposes 7. Federal aviation administration research (a) In general Section 911(a) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 44504 (1) by striking assist in the development (1) assist in the development ; (2) by striking and other , other (3) by striking the period and inserting , and sustainable fuel that can be used without the need to blend with any other type of aviation fuel; (4) by adding at the end the following: (2) promote the efforts of the aviation sector to become a net-zero greenhouse gas emitting sector; (3) study the climate impacts of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, water vapor, and contrails and ways to minimize such impacts; and (4) develop a methodology for quantifying the non-carbon dioxide climate impacts of aviation in a lifecycle analysis, including the benefits of sustainable aviation fuel other than the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. . (b) Definitions Section 911 of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Sustainable aviation fuel The term sustainable aviation fuel (A) is derived from a qualified feedstock; and (B) conforms to the standards, recommended practices, requirements and criteria, supporting documents, implementation elements, and any other technical guidance for sustainable aviation fuels that are adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States. (2) Qualified feedstock The term qualified feedstock (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section. . 8. Department of energy research (a) In general The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a program to research the use of cover crops or other crops grown for conservation purposes rather than for sale in the production of sustainable aviation fuel. (b) Collaboration In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall collaborate with the national laboratories, the Department of Agriculture, and industry partners. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Sustainable aviation fuel The term sustainable aviation fuel (A) is derived from a qualified feedstock; and (B) conforms to the standards, recommended practices, requirements and criteria, supporting documents, implementation elements, and any other technical guidance for sustainable aviation fuels that are adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States. (2) National laboratory The term national laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801(3) (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 9. Extension of clean fuel production credit for sustainable aviation fuel (a) In general Section 45Z(g) (g) Termination This section shall not apply— (1) in the case of transportation fuel which is not sustainable aviation fuel, to fuel sold after December 31, 2027, and (2) in the case of sustainable aviation fuel, to fuel sold after December 31, 2032. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to fuel produced after December 31, 2027. 10. Sustainable aviation fuel production property added to Energy Credit (a) In general Section 48 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2)(A)(i)— (i) in subclause (VIII), by striking and (ii) by adding at the end the following new subclause: (X) sustainable aviation fuel production property, and , (B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking or or (xii) sustainable aviation fuel production property, , and (C) by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph (17) and by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new paragraph: (16) Phaseout for sustainable aviation fuel production property In the case of any energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(xii) the construction of which begins before January 1, 2037, the energy percentage determined under paragraph (2) shall be equal to— (A) in the case of any property the construction of which begins after December 31, 2028, and before January 1, 2030, 24 percent, (B) in the case of any property the construction of which begins after December 31, 2029, and before January 1, 2031, 18 percent, and (C) in the case of any property the construction of which begins after December 31, 2030, and before January 1, 2037, 12 percent. , and (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9) Sustainable aviation fuel production property (A) In general The term sustainable aviation fuel production property (i) property which produces sustainable aviation fuel (as defined in section 40B(d)), or (ii) property directly related to enabling the production or distribution of sustainable aviation fuel. (B) Recapture of credit The Secretary shall, by regulations, provide for recapturing the benefit of any credit allowable under subsection (a)(3)(A)(xii) with respect to any sustainable aviation fuel production property if the sustainable aviation fuel production of such property comprises less than 80 percent of the total fuel production of such property in any of the 5 taxable years immediately following the taxable year in which such property was placed in service. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to fuel produced after December 31, 2023.

Summary: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act This bill establishes targets and standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airplane flights and provides incentives for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel. Specifically, this bill establishes a national goal to achieve a net 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from flights by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a low carbon fuel standard for aviation fuels. Under the standard, the EPA must set annual targets in order to reduce certain greenhouse gas emissions associated with aviation fuel by at least (1) 20% by 2030, and (2) 50% by 2050. Beginning in FY2025, the Department of Defense must make a bulk purchase of an amount of sustainable aviation fuel that is not less than 10% of the total amount of aviation fuel procured for operational purposes. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must implement a program that offers grants and cost-sharing agreements for projects to produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuel. The projects must be located in the United States. Finally, the bill provides tax credits for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.