SAF Act

1) WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the SAF Act (HR6518) in the House on December 9, 2025. The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and remains in early legislative stage. A companion bill (S3759) was also introduced in the Senate and referred to Finance Committee. The SAF Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the special rate calculation under Section 45Z for sustainable aviation fuel and extends the entire clean fuel production credit from December 31, 2029 to December 31, 2033. The bill has non-partisan support with 8 cosponsors including both Democrats and Republicans. 2) THE MONEY TRAIL: This is a tax expenditure — it does not appropriate direct funding but reduces federal revenue by increasing per-gallon tax credits for SAF producers. The credit rate jumps from $1.00 to $1.75 per gallon for SAF, with early-stage production (before baseline lifecycle emissions are established) capped at 50% of that rate. The Joint Committee on Taxation has not yet scored this bill (early stage), but based on current SAF production projections (~3 billion gallons by 2030), the annual tax expenditure could range from $2-5 billion per year. This is an authorization-level change to the tax code — actual impact depends on producers claiming the credits. 3) WHO BENEFITS: The structural winners are independent refiners with existing renewable diesel capacity that can be converted to SAF. HF Sinclair (DINO) operates 100 MMgy of renewable diesel at its Sinclair, WY facility and has announced SAF conversion plans. Gevo (GEVO) is a pure-play SAF producer with technology licensed to other producers — the higher credit directly improves their offtake economics. GE Aerospace (GE) benefits indirectly as SAF certification and adoption drives aircraft engine upgrades and service revenue. Feedstock suppliers like Darling Ingredients (DAR) and renewable fuel producers like Renewable Energy Group (REGI, owned by Chevron) benefit from increased demand for low-carbon feedstocks. 4) COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE: The SAF market is currently dominated by Neste (private), World Energy (private), and Phillips 66's Rodeo Renewed project. Public companies with meaningful exposure include DINO (through its renewable diesel conversion), GEVO (technology licensing), and DAR (feedstock). The extension through 2033 provides long-term revenue visibility that supports capital investment in new production facilities. 5) TIMELINE: The bill is in early stage — it has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. To become law, it must pass the House, then the Senate, avoid a veto, or override one. Given divided government (119th Congress), passage probability is moderate. However, the companion bill S3759 in the Senate indicates bipartisan support. The effective date is retroactive to fuel produced after December 31, 2025, which creates incentive for immediate investment if passage appears likely.