Video & Transcript Research : 'emissions limits'
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HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EIG-GVO, EIG, EIG DEFER Public Hearings 03-18-2025
Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, for those who are testifying, we're going to limit your testimony.
- Uh, for those who are testifying, we're going to limit your testimony.
- to this act shall be limited to resurfacing and not underlying nonconforming issues.
- pursuant to this act shall be limited to resurfacing and not underlying nonconforming issues.
- additional fees for EVs, zero emission additional fees for EVs, zero emission vehicles<00:32:04.080
Summary:
The joint committees heard House Bill 344 HD1, which would require new buildings to include electric vehicle charger-ready parking stalls. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from the State Energy Office, Department of Accounting and General Services, the Disabilities and Communication Access Board, and others. Members asked about cost and infrastructure impacts; the State Energy Office said the added cost would likely be modest if planned from the start, but that electrical capacity remains a key challenge for expanding EV charging. The chairs proposed two amendments: extending the bill to cover on-grade parking lots and adding language for Level 1 or Level 3 charging when appropriate.
After discussion, both committees voted to pass HB 344 HD1 with amendments. In the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, the chair voted aye, one member voted with reservation, and excused members were noted; the Government Operations committee also passed the measure, with one aye vote and one vote with reservations.
The committees also heard House Bill 10001 HD1 SD1, relating to the Maui wildfire settlement trust fund. The Governor’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Maui County, and the Tax Foundation testified in support. Members questioned Hawaii Electric Industries’ ability to fund its share of the settlement and whether the state should pay first or in tranches. The chair proposed amendments requiring all defendant parties to submit payment plans and proof of ability to pay, and requiring non-state defendants to fund their shares into escrow before the state releases its share. The committee adopted the amendments and passed the bill unanimously by the members present.
Later, the committee deferred action on House Bill 229 HD1 until March 20 for clarification on amendments, then passed House Bill 860 HD1 with amendments addressing liability for limited resurfacing of disputed roads, and passed House Bill 1161 HD2 with amendments concerning highway fund use, formula calculations, and EV-related county fees.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- And again, it's balanced with no cuts and with very limited new investments.
- Limited new investments.
- And therefore, it is not exempt from the state appropriations limit.
- The purpose of cap-and-trade funding is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- We have a limited capacity, frankly.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Transactions; HB 2795, Small Modular Reactor, Natural Resources, Energy and Water; HB 2803, Expenditure Limitation
- 2425 auditor general state lands, 2426 state land development, 2427 land department checklist, 2420 emissions
- conservation, 2520 contraception cost sharing, 2521 disability children's shot, 2522 contracept for rights limits
- homeless appropriation, 2533 homeless services office board, 2534 light rail extension, 2535 vehicle emission
- 8 CR 2021 on minimum wage increase, 8 CR 2022 right-to-work appeal, 8 CR 2043 congressional term limits
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/26/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- uh I'm sorry net zero emissions uh I'm sorry net zero emissions emissions emissions goal<00:08:25.520
- And in doing so, it not only reduces emissions by as much as 90%, but it also keeps that gas backup,
- I know that we have some limitations.
- There are certainly limits to that, and rates have an important impact on that.
- <00:52:32.200>
executive prior to my joining limited executive prior to my joining limited
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- EPA in 2023. ...of greenhouse gas emissions as assessed by the U.S. EPA in 2023.
- This means California has a limited time to continue to be a national leader in this space.
- This means California has a limited time to continue to be a national leader in this space.
- . ...a year, forcing dependence on imports that increase carbon emissions.
- But for our Have a cap, have a limit on how long you can be put on probation.
Summary:
The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then moved through guest introductions, including students and fellows from California Lutheran University, UC Merced’s CAPE program, the Maddy Institute, and Madera High School’s Madtown Robotics Team 1323, which was recognized for multiple robotics world championships. The chamber also adopted an adjournment in memory and took up the daily file.
Several bills and resolutions were considered and passed, including AB 1390 on school board compensation thresholds, AB 1338 on air district cost recovery for fence-line air monitoring, AB 648 on community college housing, AB 1207 on cap-and-trade price ceilings, ACR 66 recognizing Skin Cancer Awareness Month, AB 49 on keeping ICE out of public schools, AB 317 on a CEQA exemption for certain single-family homes, AB 527 on geothermal exploratory wells, AB 665 on the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ombudsman report, AB 940 creating quantum innovation zones, AB 1021 on workforce housing for education agencies, AB 1112 on property tax apportionment in Rancho Mirage, AB 1318 on nonprofit eligibility for public funding, and AB 1470 on using student housing loan funds for affordable housing in downtowns and commercial districts. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 49 and AB 1318 were urgency bills and passed with the required higher vote threshold.
The floor also adopted H.R. 40, declaring May 25 as Rosenda’s Day to honor a teen killed by a drunk driver, and H.R. 42, recognizing May as Behavioral Health Awareness Month. Both drew extensive personal testimony from members about mental health, suicide, substance use, and the need to reduce stigma and expand access to care. Additional health-related bills passed, including AB 408 creating a physician health and wellness program, AB 546 requiring coverage for HEPA purifiers for certain enrollees after wildfire disasters, AB 967 expediting licenses for out-of-state physicians, and AB 968 expanding pharmacist authority to provide non-hormonal contraception.
The Assembly also debated AB 1056 on phasing out gill net fishing and AB 1376 on limiting juvenile probation terms, with supporters framing both as conservation or rehabilitation measures and opponents warning about economic harm or public safety concerns. Both bills ultimately passed. Throughout the session, members repeatedly emphasized public safety, education, housing, climate, health care access, and support for immigrant and youth communities, with recorded roll-call votes and voice votes taken on each measure.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Carbon Sequestration Programs Study Commission (04/17/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:17:16.120>
and their greenhouse gas emissions and their greenhouse gas emissions and industries - their own emissions. their own emissions.
- against their emissions obligation. against their emissions obligation.
- Oh, we have a time limit here, so I'm going to take maybe a couple more questions.
- And they're using emissions reductions.
Summary:
The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners.
A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements.
Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Debate — April 26 Apr 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So in 2019, Senate Bill 5811 created zero-emission credits, and at that, Created zero-emission credits
- There's three ways you can use these zero-emission credits.
- Exclusively selling zero-emission vehicles into the future. But, Mr.
- Cars and moving towards zero-emission vehicles.
- This is a new tax on zero-emission vehicle credits. That's what it is. It's a new tax.
Summary:
The Senate opened with a moment of silence for Senator Chris Gildon and his family after the death of his wife, Autumn. It then took up several bills on final passage, beginning with Substitute House Bill 2020, which establishes a 3.1% B&O tax rate for payment card processing activities and allows a deduction for certain related fees. Supporters said it resolves a long-running dispute with the Department of Revenue; it passed 47-0.
The chamber also passed House Bill 2039, delaying the child support pass-through expansion from 2026 to 2029, and House Bill 2040, delaying the elimination of recoveries from the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Assistance Program from October 2025 to October 2028. Supporters framed both as timing changes, while opponents argued they would postpone benefits for families and vulnerable people. Both bills passed 25-22.
Substitute House Bill 2051, dealing with payment to acute care hospitals for difficult-to-discharge patients, passed 27-20 after several proposed amendments were withdrawn. Supporters said the bill helps hospitals care for patients who have nowhere else to go, while opponents argued the state should not delay payment support for these patients. The Senate also passed In Gross Substitute House Bill 2061, imposing a 10% concession fee on duty-free sales to fund tourism promotion and sustainable aviation fuel, over objections that it was a tax increase passed on to consumers.
Finally, Substitute House Bill 2077, which taxes certain business activities related to zero-emission vehicle credits, passed 28-19 after an amendment to remove or narrow parts of the tax was rejected. Supporters said the measure would encourage spending of credits and support clean transportation goals, while opponents called it a targeted tax on Tesla and warned it could raise EV prices. The Senate then concurred in amended Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1293, a litter and plastic bag measure that increases litter penalties and keeps the planned bag-thickness increase from taking effect, and passed it 27-20. The Senate adjourned until April 27, 2025.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Mar 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We are concerned that it limits the options.
- We avoid 5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
- And talk to us SB 866 on anchoring limitation areas by Senator Martin.
- Local anchoring limitation areas will limit Currington more than 30 days within a 6 month period compared
- to the current state limit of 45 days in a county designated areas limit Section 3. 27.6 0 to f to counties
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:55:58.720>
and amendment would help lower emissions and amendment would help lower emissions - everything else that we've limited everything else that we've limited people<01:11:46.640>
with - <01:53:57.119>
and needed. to reduce our emissions and needed. to reduce our emissions and - <03:30:56.960>
of that uh uh we only had limited of that uh uh we only had limited of applicants - But for the limited vendors out there.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Regulated Industries Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- IT PROVIDES LICENSING WITH EXPERTISE AND LIMITS RESIDENTIAL INSPECTORS TO ONE AND TWO FAMILY HOMES PER
- MY CONCERN IS THAT THE MANDATES COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVING CARBON EMISSIONS WILL
- PLACE AND LOCALS START MAKING THESE DETERMINATIONS BECAUSE IF THERE IS A FEDERAL MANDATE ON CARBON EMISSIONS
- OF THESE SOLAR FACILITIES WOULD THAT PUT THEM IN A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE FROM GETTING TO THE CARBON EMISSION
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 28, 2026 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- our comprehensive land use, growth, and resiliency goals, and mandating connections outside city limits
- Advanced nuclear energy technologies give Florida the chance to help lead the country in deploying zero-emissions
- In Florida, the chance to help lead the country in deploying zero-emissions technology.
- All of these priorities depend on access to affordable zero-emissions power.
- All of these priorities depend upon access to affordable zero-emissions power.
Summary:
The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee considered a full agenda of transportation, utility, aviation, and energy bills. HB 4045, amending the Jacksonville Aviation Authority charter, passed without questions or debate. HB 1075, which would require municipal utilities to allow outside property owners to connect when capacity exists and fees are paid, drew testimony from local government and municipal advocates who warned about conflicts with existing agreements, long infrastructure payback periods, and the risk of subsidizing nonresidents; despite concerns from Rep. Smith and others about municipal boundaries and cost, the bill passed, with Smith voting no. HB 519, as amended, authorizes golf cart crossings at signalized intersections on designated golf cart roads; it passed unanimously after lighthearted debate about golf carts and pedestrian crossings.
The committee then took up HB 919, which creates a state definition for major commercial service airports and preempts airport naming authority, including renaming Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA, county, and trademark-related conditions. Palm Beach County supported the bill and an amendment clarifying implementation and trademark language, while Rep. Eskamani and others raised concerns about preemption and the timing of honoring a sitting president; the bill passed with several no votes, including Eskamani, Skidmore, and the ranking member. HB 1093, the Advanced Air Mobility and Infrastructure Act, would support eVTOL/vertiport development through tax exemptions, infrastructure funding flexibility, and statewide siting standards while preserving local zoning; supporters framed it as an economic-development and workforce bill, while Rep. Cheney raised taxpayer concerns. An amendment narrowing liability protections for vertiports co-located with public airports was adopted, and the bill passed with Cheney voting no.
Finally, HB 1461 established a regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactors, assigning oversight roles to the PSC, DOH, and DEP. Supporters argued the bill would improve energy reliability, affordability, and Florida’s leadership in clean, advanced energy, while an opponent from Deploy US urged strong consumer protections and cautioned against overbroad deregulation. Rep. Eskamani emphasized preserving PSC prudency review for ratepayer protection, and the sponsor said the bill was refined through committee discussion. After an amendment fixing technical issues and clarifying that one section applied to all nuclear, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Agriculture (01/27/2026)
Environment and Agriculture
Transcript Highlights:
- It honestly depends on the seed coating. >> Could we limit it to the corn seed because that seen corn
- it to the corn seed >> Could we limit it to the corn seed because<01:35:58.080>
that <01 - Uh they've restricted either limiting use to licensed applicators, which I think would be appropriate
- c> license<01:47:16.239>
applicators, limiting use to license applicators, limiting use to - to them, use GIS to use some limiting to them, use GIS to use some limiting factors<02:08:58.560
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Jul 16th, 2025
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits
Transcript Highlights:
- encompass all assets and infrastructure that are vulnerable to hazards within the county or city limits
- Commerce must evaluate the impact of local climate resilience and greenhouse gas emissions sub-elements
- specifically the impacts of cities' or counties' actions on just three areas: reducing local greenhouse gas emissions
- planning the project, that there are things that project needs to do: further study to identify the limitations
- That would be reducing carbon emissions, right? I mean, okay. Thank you very much.
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted.
The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes.
The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Testimony today will be limited to three minutes per testimony.
- These benefits provide incentives for residents to change how they commute and lower emissions.
- This resulted in a reduction of an estimated 35,000 tons of CO2 emissions in the first 12 months of the
- So then there's going to be limited options for contractors to sign on to insurance.
- So again, I just think for us it's important to understand the ratio sets the limit of apprentices to
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid hearing on a large group of bills carried over from the previous session, with Chair Jake Oliveira and House Co-Chair Paul McMurtry outlining the process and limiting testimony to three minutes. The committee heard testimony on several labor and workplace proposals, including bills to harmonize employee definitions to address misclassification (SB 1338/HB 2141), expand bereavement leave (including H. 2189/S. 1354 and related bills), protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative employees (HB 268/SB 1306), expand commuter transit benefits (HB 2153/SB 1345), regulate employer use of credit reports (S. 1286), and require apprenticeship participation or OSHA-related workplace safety measures on public projects. At the end of the hearing, the chairs read into the record additional bills that did not receive testimony that day.
Supporters of the misclassification bill, including Greater Boston Legal Services and the AFL-CIO, said aligning the employee-status tests across wage, unemployment, and PFML laws would reduce confusion, improve enforcement, and help workers wrongly treated as independent contractors or managers recover benefits and bargaining rights. NAGE and its representative argued that public-sector employees have been improperly reclassified into management titles to weaken unions, and that the bill would force the Division of Labor Relations to review those titles. On bereavement leave, advocates including the Louis E. Brown Peace Institute, a state representative, the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, and individual survivors described the impact of sudden loss and homicide on families, saying guaranteed leave would help workers grieve, make arrangements, and avoid losing jobs or custody-related stability. The committee also heard support for commuter benefits as a low-cost way to reduce emissions and increase transit use, and for restricting employer credit checks because of inaccuracies and discriminatory effects.
There was opposition to some construction-related bills. The Associated Builders and Contractors and the Building Trades Employers Association supported apprenticeship training in principle but said current apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are outdated or misunderstood, and that the bills should be amended or clarified before advancing. The Massachusetts landscape and snow-removal industry strongly supported a snow-liability limitation bill, arguing that hold-harmless clauses and broad indemnification requirements force contractors to assume liability for conditions they cannot control, drive up insurance costs, and threaten business viability. The committee did not take any votes during the hearing, and the session ended with the chairs thanking members, staff, and the public before adjourning.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes SF2, the omnibus energy bill 6/9/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:15:05.360>
by <00:15:05.600>half <00:15:05.839>a greenhouse gas emissions - The number one cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is moving not from coal to solar, from coal
- The number one cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is moving not from coal to solar, from coal
- <00:23:28.080>
in <00:23:28.320>the reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the reduced - green greenhouse gas emissions green greenhouse gas emissions responsibly<00:24:14.799>
and
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/26
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- There are certain limitations.
- There are certain limitations.
- There are certain limitations.
- There are certain limitations.
- There are certain limitations.
Keywords:
suicide prevention, transportation, mental health, bridge safety, data collection, state law, bridge inspection, active transportation, truck parking, public safety, vehicle registration, fee structure, full-service providers, Capitol security, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, Minnesota State Patrol, State Patrol compensation, trooper salary
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 31, 2025 - 04:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- The net zero agenda and its climate policies demand expensive emissions reporting, zero-emission machinery
- The net zero agenda in its climate policies demand expensive emissions reporting, zero emission machinery
- Examples of some of these metrics include parasiline GHG emission targets, impact of GHG emissions, land
- loss of land, and releasing what climate alarm is claimed to be planned and ending carbon dioxide emissions
- on risk, soon be under enormous pressure to undertake these voluntary changes and reduce their emissions
Summary:
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee heard House Bill 651, described by sponsors as the Florida Farm Bill and a comprehensive FDACS agency package. The bill combined technical agency updates with several policy provisions, including changes to water additive rules, labeling requirements for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, criminal penalties related to drones over agricultural land, mail theft, and retail fuel theft, updates to disaster recovery loan programs, an FFA scholarship, school infrastructure provisions, land purchase authority for converted agricultural land, and a Florida Farmer Financial Protection Act addressing ESG-related banking practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on the bill’s fluoride language, with supporters arguing for local choice and consumer consent and opponents warning about public health impacts and loss of local control. Members also questioned the C-4 registry language and whether it was duplicative or could affect organizations’ status.
Public testimony was split. Opponents included Florida for All and the Florida Dental Association, with testimony arguing the bill protected agribusiness interests and that removing fluoride would harm dental health, especially for low-income families. Proponents included Heritage Action, Heartland Impact, and several individuals who argued the bill protected farmers from ESG-driven banking restrictions and supported informed consent and the removal of fluoride from public water. Several agricultural and advocacy groups also waved in support. During debate, some members praised portions of the bill such as housing for agricultural workers, drone penalties, and school-related provisions, but said they could not support the fluoride preemption or the C-4 language. Others supported the fluoride provision as a matter of individual and local choice.
On final passage, the committee reported HB 651 favorably. The vote was 11-4, with Chair Esposito, Vice Chair Botana, Representatives Barnaby, Benaroch, Black, Mayfield, Mooney, Plasencia, Salzman, and Weinberger voting yes, and Representatives Alvarez, Bartleman, Henson, and Rainer voting no.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Mar 24th, 2025
Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact
Transcript Highlights:
- There's a limited likelihood that we will have a lot of new resources to be expanding or creating new
- Similarly, the state's efforts on GHG emissions reductions play a role in the state's higher gas prices
- The state currently employs a suite of strategies of reducing GHG emissions through gasoline and as part
- Given the resource limitations there, I think I mentioned a couple of things, sort of reviewing some
- The sky's the limit. There's many opportunities in manufacturing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House agriculture committee hears testimony on sustainable aviation fuel 2/10/25
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:23:58.679>
for <00:23:58.960>aviation cycle emission for aviation cycle emission - <00:34:58.640>
in to drive down those carbon emissions in to drive down those carbon emissions - heard the greenhouse gas emissions heard the greenhouse gas emissions associated<00:43:02.160>
- <00:43:06.319>
and comprise 3% of total us emissions and comprise 3% of total us emissions- It would help reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
- <00:43:06.319>
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and Minnesota’s efforts to build a SAF industry. Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because it could benefit agriculture, forestry, clean energy, and rural economies. She highlighted the 2023 state SAF tax credit and sales tax exemption for facility construction, describing the credit as a nation-leading incentive designed to stack with federal IRA credits and attract producers and blenders to Minnesota.
Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines said aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s best available tool to reach net-zero goals by 2050. He explained that SAF is a certified drop-in fuel that can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft and infrastructure, and he cited growing global demand and limited supply. He said Minnesota has many potential feedstocks, including used cooking oil, corn, soybeans, and camelina, and praised the state’s SAF tax credit and the Minnesota SAF Hub as important steps toward making Minnesota a leader in the sector.
Peter Fros of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building an industrial-scale SAF value chain in Minnesota. He said the state has key advantages, including airport demand, corporate partners, research institutions, and agricultural inputs, and estimated that three SAF biorefineries could create tens of thousands of jobs and significant emissions reductions. He also said the Hub is working on blending infrastructure, private demand commitments, a winter camelina expansion study, and efforts to secure additional refineries before 2030. Members raised questions about how sustainability is measured, and Fros said the Hub relies on the federal GREET model but wants a clearer, transparent, and standardized national method that also accounts for issues like water quality and biodiversity.
Amanda Bellik of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association said corn-based ethanol is a strong fit for SAF production through the alcohol-to-jet pathway because it is abundant, affordable, and supported by existing infrastructure. She said SAF development could create a new value-added market for corn without requiring new acres, but emphasized the need for significant capital investment, stable tax policy, and efficient permitting. She also said the group has worked with a consultant on third-party sustainability assessments of corn production practices to help fill data gaps and support the carbon-intensity requirements tied to SAF incentives.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to markup an original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034. Feb 12th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Senate Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- I ask members to limit their opening statements to six minutes.
- It does include, by the way, a debt limit increase because I guess even they recognize that to pay for
- all the increases in spending that y'all are suggesting, you're going to have to raise the debt limit
- Fossil fuel emissions, methane—one of the worst—are making the weather worse and harder to predict.
- And the document says so: stopping the methane emissions fee. Right there. I'll be brief. Mr.