Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuel trade association, has submitted recommendations to improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture's interim guidelines on climate-smart agriculture practices for biofuel feedstocks.
The association emphasized the need for flexibility in recognizing innovative farming techniques and called for the inclusion of climate-smart practices in the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z).
"This is an important opportunity for USDA to maximize the ability of farmers and U.S. biofuel producers to tap into new markets for clean fuels," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.
Key recommendations include:
- Expanding guidelines to recognize a broader range of climate-smart practices
- Streamlining traceability requirements
- Facilitating easier quantification of practice values for growers
Growth Energy stressed the importance of aligning USDA guidelines with the 45Z credit to incentivize farmer participation and support biofuel producers in accessing clean fuel incentives.
The association's proposals aim to enhance the recognition of U.S. farmers' efforts in sustainable crop production and accelerate the development of American-grown feedstock-based fuels.
