Reduce Our Military’s Reliance on Foreign Fuel Act
Bill: S.4392 | Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Reduce Our Military's Reliance on Foreign Fuel Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement a pilot program on the use of sustainable aviation fuel by DOD. Under the bill, sustainable aviation fuel means liquid fuel that (1) consists of synthesized hydrocarbon; (2) meets the requirements of ASTM International Standard D7566; (3) is derived from biomass, waste streams, renewable energy sources, or gaseous carbon oxides; and (4) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates.

To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program on the 
     use of sustainable aviation fuel by the Department of Defense.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reduce Our Military's Reliance on 
Foreign Fuel Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL.

    (a) Pilot Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a 
        pilot program on the use of sustainable aviation fuel by the 
        Department of Defense.
            (2) Design of program.--The pilot program shall be designed 
        to--
                    (A) identify any logistical challenges with respect 
                to the use of sustainable aviation fuel by the 
                Department;
                    (B) promote understanding of the technical and 
                performance characteristics of sustainable aviation 
                fuel when used in a military setting; and
                    (C) engage nearby commercial airports to explore 
                opportunities and challenges to partner on increased 
                use of sustainable aviation fuel.
    (b) Selection of Facilities.--
            (1) Selection.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Defense shall select not fewer than two geographically 
                diverse facilities of the Department at which to carry 
                out the pilot program.
                    (B) Onsite refinery.--Not fewer than one facility 
                selected under subparagraph (A) shall be a facility 
                with an onsite refinery that is located in proximity to 
                not fewer than one major commercial airport that is 
                also actively seeking to increase the use of 
                sustainable aviation fuel.
            (2) Notice to congress.--Upon the selection of each 
        facility under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
        Representatives notice of the selection, including an 
        identification of the facility selected.
    (c) Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.--
            (1) Plans.--For each facility selected under subsection 
        (b), not later than one year after the selection of the 
        facility, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) develop a plan on how to implement, by 
                September 30, 2028, a target of exclusively using at 
                the facility aviation fuel that is blended to contain 
                not less than 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel;
                    (B) submit the plan developed under subparagraph 
                (A) to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
                and the House of Representatives; and
                    (C) provide to the Committees on Armed Services of 
                the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing 
                on such plan that includes, at a minimum--
                            (i) a description of any operational, 
                        infrastructure, or logistical requirements and 
                        recommendations for the blending and use of 
                        sustainable aviation fuel; and
                            (ii) a description of any stakeholder 
                        engagement in the development of the plan, 
                        including any consultations with nearby 
                        commercial airport owners or operators.
            (2) Implementation of plans.--For each facility selected 
        under subsection (b), during the period beginning on a date 
        that is not later than September 30, 2028, and for five years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall require, in accordance with the 
        respective plan developed under paragraph (1), the exclusive 
        use at the facility of aviation fuel that is blended to contain 
        not less than 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel.
    (d) Criteria for Sustainable Aviation Fuel.--Sustainable aviation 
fuel used under the pilot program shall meet the following criteria:
            (1) Such fuel shall be produced in the United States from 
        domestic feedstock sources.
            (2) Such fuel shall constitute drop-in fuel that meets all 
        specifications and performance requirements of the Department 
        of Defense and the Armed Forces.
    (e) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the use of sustainable 
aviation fuel at a facility under the pilot program if the Secretary--
            (1) determines such use is not feasible due to a lack of 
        domestic availability of sustainable aviation fuel or a 
        national security contingency; and
            (2) submits to the congressional defense committees notice 
        of such waiver and the reasons for such waiver.
    (f) Final Report.--
            (1) In general.--At the conclusion of the pilot program, 
        the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, 
        and Environment shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
        Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a final 
        report on the pilot program.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include each of the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the effect of using 
                sustainable aviation fuel on the overall fuel costs of 
                blended fuel.
                    (B) A description of any operational, 
                infrastructure, or logistical requirements and 
                recommendations for the blending and use of sustainable 
                aviation fuel, with a focus on scaling up adoption of 
                such fuel throughout the Armed Forces.
                    (C) Recommendations with respect to how military 
                installations can leverage proximity to commercial 
                airports and other jet fuel consumers to increase the 
                rate of use of sustainable aviation fuel, for both 
                military and non-military use, including potential 
                collaboration on innovative financing or purchasing and 
                shared supply chain infrastructure.
                    (D) A description of the effects on performance and 
                operation of aircraft using sustainable aviation fuel, 
                including--
                            (i) if used, considerations of various 
                        blending ratios and their associated benefits;
                            (ii) efficiency and distance improvements 
                        of flights using sustainable aviation fuel;
                            (iii) weight savings on large 
                        transportation aircraft and other types of 
                        aircraft with using blended fuel with higher 
                        concentrations of sustainable aviation fuel;
                            (iv) maintenance benefits of using 
                        sustainable aviation fuel, including engine 
                        longevity;
                            (v) the effect of the use of sustainable 
                        aviation fuel on emissions and air quality;
                            (vi) the effect of the use of sustainable 
                        aviation fuel on the environment and on 
                        surrounding communities, including 
                        environmental justice factors that are created 
                        by the demand for and use of sustainable 
                        aviation fuel by the Department of Defense; and
                            (vii) benefits with respect to job creation 
                        in the sustainable aviation fuel production and 
                        supply chain.
    (g) Sustainable Aviation Fuel Defined.--In this section, the term 
``sustainable aviation fuel'' means liquid fuel that--
            (1) consists of synthesized hydrocarbon;
            (2) meets the requirements of ASTM International Standard 
        D7566 (or successor standard);
            (3) is derived from biomass (as such term is defined in 
        section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), waste 
        streams, renewable energy sources, or gaseous carbon oxides; 
        and
            (4) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates.
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