U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) called on April 2 for policy action to support the growth of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the United States, emphasizing its potential to strengthen energy security and create jobs in rural communities.
Moran said that with the right policies, America could reduce reliance on foreign jet fuel and leverage existing agricultural and industrial resources, especially in states like Kansas. He noted that while Kansas is a leader in both agriculture and aviation, further progress depends on stable government incentives for SAF production.
“Energy dominance requires an accounting of every source of energy, and every gallon of jet fuel sourced from an unstable region is a strategic liability,” Moran said. He explained that his proposed Securing America’s Fuels Act would reinstate the SAF bonus credit within the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit program, increasing its value up to $1.75 per gallon for cleaner fuels and extending it through 2033.
Moran said economic certainty is crucial for farmers considering investment in SAF feedstocks such as corn, sorghum, or soybeans because producing homegrown jet fuel remains more expensive than conventional options without tax incentives. “Without a stable, reliable tax incentive, the cost gap doesn’t close, and the investment pipeline dries up before it gets started,” he said.
The senator highlighted that scaling SAF production could generate over 70,000 jobs by 2030 according to U.S Department of Energy estimates—a development he believes will help sustain rural economies across America. The Midwest’s biofuels infrastructure is already well positioned to support this industry shift.
Supporters of Moran’s proposal include farm groups and aviation organizations who see bipartisan value in linking American agriculture with new markets while reducing carbon emissions from air travel by up to 80%. “This policy is supported by the Global Business Travel Association… Airlines for America… Advanced Biofuels Association… American Biogas Council and others,” Moran said.
According to his official website, Moran serves on both the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; he has previously represented Kansas’s Big First Congressional District for seven terms in Congress after working as a banker early in his career. He holds degrees in economics from Fort Hays State University and University of Kansas as well as a Juris Doctor from University of Kansas School of Law according to his official biography.
Moran concluded: “Our farmers and rural communities have everything it takes to help power America’s skies. It’s time we gave them the tools to do it.”
