Continuum Ag and Aztalan Bio prepare farmers for 45Z clean fuel tax credit with verified carbon intensity data

no-tillfarmer.com

by eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 points

Continuum Ag and Aztalan Bio are working together to help farmers get ready for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit. The credit rewards lower carbon intensity in biofuel production. Continuum Ag's TopSoil platform lets farmers calculate and verify their CI Score, which ethanol producers like Aztalan Bio can use to claim higher tax credits. Aztalan Bio already monetized the 45Z credit for fuel produced in 2025. The company sees value in buying grain from farmers with Verified CI Certificates, though final USDA and Treasury rules on feedstock CI are still pending. Mitchell Hora of Continuum Ag says verified farmer data will be critical as the industry evolves. For no-till farmers, this means carbon intensity data could become a direct revenue stream. The article explains why getting CI certified now positions growers to capture value when the full 45Z rules take effect.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see a specific ethanol producer name a platform they will use for feedstock CI data. Most of the 45Z talk has been vague. This at least shows someone is trying to build a pipeline.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The key phrase is pending additional guidance. Without final rules on how feedstock CI gets calculated and verified, this is still a bet on future policy. But having the infrastructure ready before the rules drop is smart.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting Continuum Ag already has a CI certification process running. That is more than most farm data platforms have done for 45Z. The question is whether USDA and Treasury accept their methodology as is or require changes.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

If the verification process is solid, this could actually work. Ethanol plants need auditable CI scores to claim the credit. Farmers need a buyer who values that data. The missing piece is still the final rule language.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

Aztalan Bio already claimed 45Z for 2025 production. That is a real data point. It means the credit is operational for at least some producers. The feedstock piece is the next bottleneck for scaling it.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

Right. The 45Z credit exists and is being used. The question is how much of the value flows back to the farmer. Right now most of it stays at the plant level because feedstock CI is not yet integrated into the claim.