Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) last week and thanked them for the work they have been doing on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is helping to set the stage for 45Z tax credit guidance.
The RCCP started in South Dakota in 2021 and recently received a $35 million investment through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which has helped it expand to 10 states.
“You’re providing resources to help farmers reduce tillage to manage nutrients and to utilize cover crops,” said Vilsack. “You are creating a database that will be verified and measured…And you’re setting the stage for us to make, I think a more powerful case that ethanol needs to be part of the sustainable aviation fuel future.”
Vilsack said during his remarks that USDA has taken the comments received in a recent request for information and will be working with the other agencies involved to get guidance from the Treasury Department by the time the 45Z tax credit becomes effective in 2025. “Things can change and timelines can slip as they have from time to time, but I think the goal here, I think everybody’s working towards that goal of the end of the year, beginning of next year’s focus,” Vilsack told reporters.
Listen to Vilsack’s remarks here:
ACE 24 Sec. Vilsack remarks 48:40 ACE 24 Sec. Vilsack presser 15:17