Environment

SB 236 creates a tax credit program in Michigan to incentivize the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It directly affects fuel producers who meet specific environmental standards, requiring SAF to achieve at least a 50% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum fuel and comply with ASTM aviation fuel standards. Producers must apply to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for certification of their tax credit, providing evidence of domestic production, emissions reduction, and proof that the fuel was used in aircraft departing Michigan airports. The program administers tax credits through a state-certified process, aiming to boost local SAF production while meeting federal environmental benchmarks.

SB 181 is a routine appropriations bill that allocates $1.03 billion in funding for Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides specific funding levels for department operations, including water resources programs, environmental investigations, and administrative support, with $187.4 million coming from the state general fund. The bill directs how existing state and federal funds, along with revenue from environmental fees and special funds (like the Great Lakes protection fund), will be spent. As a procedural budget measure, it does not create new policy but enables the department to operate within its established responsibilities.