Congressman Flood at Agri-Pulse: Rural America Needs Sustainable Aviation Fuel More Than Ever

As discussions about the future of energy in America swirl around Capitol Hill, Nebraska is at the forefront of the next great biofuels revolution – sustainable aviation fuel.

When I was first elected to the Nebraska state legislature, we were in the middle of the ethanol boom. I witnessed first-hand what biofuels did for farmers across Nebraska and across the Midwest. In the early 2000s, corn farmers were facing a grim economic outlook. Corn prices were lower than the cost of production, the U.S. had a grain surplus, and many farmers relied on government support to get through that period of time or even closed up their operations altogether – not unlike what some producers are experiencing today.

That all changed in 2005 with the advent of the Renewable Fuel Standard and the resulting economic boom. Biofuel plants popped up across Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and other states. Good-paying jobs came with them along with private sector price support for some of America’s most important commodities. Over the years, these plants have attracted follow-on investment from related industries creating biotech hubs producing ethyl acetate, enzymes, bioplastics, and other innovative products.

To date, Midwestern biofuels have helped Americans and millions — if not billions — of drivers across the planet access cleaner fuels that are also more affordable. Now, Nebraska, with 24 operating facilities, is the second largest ethanol producing state in the country. We are crushing more soybeans than ever. In Nebraska, the bioeconomy is booming.

Sadly, rural America is again facing stagnant economic growth, limited market opportunities, and declining participation in agriculture. The 2024 USDA Census of Agriculture reports the number of farms in the United States has declined to about 1.88 million, down roughly 1 percent from 2022 and about 8 percent below the 2.04 million reported in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Without new demand and diversified markets, we can expect that this trend will continue.

But today, the industry is poised to enter a new chapter; we’re on the cusp of a revolution that could dwarf what rural America experienced following the expansion of ethanol and biodiesel production in the first part of the 2000s.

America is the largest producer of biofuels in the world, and as a leading state for ethanol production, Nebraska is positioned to deliver the SAF that airlines will need to power their aircraft. To this end, I’ve been working with my colleagues in the House to help cut red tape and pave the way for the biofuel producers seeking to do the work needed to get SAF to market. In Nebraska, we have one of the only large-scale carbon capture pipelines running across our entire state. While projects are being delayed other places, we are charging ahead, which all goes to show how our communities are coming together and rallying around the next big thing in biofuels.

Supporting SAF and generating a new wave of growth in the biofuels industry is not just great for our Midwestern rural communities — it’s critical for our energy independence. These fuels don’t rely on foreign sources of energy or minerals. They help support great jobs in small and mid-sized communities. And they produce high-quality distillers’ grains for our cattle and pork industries as a coproduct.

Building SAF production plants in local communities and farmers growing feedstocks will help deliver great jobs and new economic vibrance to communities across rural America. Good paying jobs across the value chain not only allow people live, work and raise a family in their local communities, but they help more people to live out the American dream.

While there are opportunities on the horizon to bring SAF to commercial production, widespread adoption of SAF won’t happen accidentally. Policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels will need to come together to open the door to ensure that red tape doesn’t stand in the way.

Last year, I was proud to join several of my colleagues – in both the House and the Senate – to introduce the Securing America's Fuels Act. This bipartisan bill builds upon the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to extend the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and give SAF production the added bonus it needs to get off the ground. With more certainty, we can better attract long-term investment to support meaningful growth.

With bipartisan backing, I am confident that the Securing America's Fuels Act will help drive continued innovation and investment that will help bring SAF into mainstream use. As that happens in the coming years, our farm families and rural economy will once again find new ways to thrive as the next great biofuels revolution unfolds.