Biden Administration Delays GREET Model Revision

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Commodity Classic in Houston on March 1 and announced that the Biden Administration will miss its self-imposed March 1 deadline to complete modifications to the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

The model is critically important for determining eligibility for the Inflation Reduction Act’s “40B” SAF tax credit and the administration agencies involved – EPA, DOT, USDA, and DOE – had been adamant it would meet the March 1 deadline and the expectation was it would be announced by Vilsack and EPA Administrator Michael Regan at Commodity Classic.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack remarks
Classic24 Vilsack remarks 22:48
EPA Administrator Michael Regan remarks
Classic24 Regan remarks 8:43
Sec. Vilsack and Admin. Regan press conference
Classic24 Vilsack-Regan presser 17:40

“While we are pleased to hear progress is being made on the modified GREET model, we are disappointed by this additional delay,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Getting the modeling right could open the door for America’s farmers and ethanol producers to participate in an enormous decarbonization opportunity. But getting it wrong will strand investments and assure the failure of the Biden administration’s climate objectives.”

Cooper was able to chat briefly with Vilsack and Regan about the delay and get some more insight into the decision. “Climate smart agriculture practices seem to be the big piece that the agencies are still struggling with in terms of how that gets folded into the model,” said Cooper.

Classic24 RFA CEO Cooper on GREET delay 6:35