Airlines Show Support for Ethanol Industry

November 9, 2023

Airlines Show Support for Ethanol Industry

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) commends the airline industry for their support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne GREET model (GREET) and ethanol production.

 

The companies joined the ethanol industry in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and asked the agency to include the GREET model when calculating tax credit eligibility for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

 

“Argonne GREET allows users to account for climate smart and regenerative feedstock production practices,” said the letter. “The IRA could unleash a new wave of U.S. bio-innovation practices but will not reach its full potential if those practices cannot be accounted for.”

 

Although no formal guidance has been shared on which feedstocks qualify for the tax credits, the Department of Energy’s Manager of System Development and Integration Program Jim Spaeth said both GREET and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) model will be used.

 

“The letter is a boost from the airlines demonstrating their desire to incorporate ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel,” said Fairfield farmer and ICGA President Matt Rush. “Our industry knows GREET is credible and we are excited to see the airlines join us. We can’t do this without them.”

 

The Short-Term Energy Outlook released by the U.S Department of Energy reports the 2023 ethanol market at 15.4 billion gallons. It is estimated the utilization of corn-based ethanol for SAF would increase ethanol demand to nearly 17 billion gallons by 2030.

 

The Department of Treasury is expected to release their decision on qualifying models in December.

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
By Tara Desmond July 3, 2025
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
A map of the world with arrows pointing to trade countries
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Top Videos of 2025
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2025
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
By Lindsay Croke June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen June 27, 2025
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Show More