go45z
Precision CI Modeling for the 45Z Era.
The grain-ethanol dashboard for the Clean Fuel Production Credit. Backed by the IRS-designated 45ZCF-GREET model — not a spreadsheet.
Technical FAQ
Guidance for ethanol plant operators and compliance teams modeling 45Z.
What is the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit?+
Section 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code provides a tax credit for clean fuel producers based on the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity of their fuel. Credits are claimed per gallon produced and scale inversely with CI score — lower carbon intensity yields higher credits.
Which GREET model version does go45z use?+
go45z uses a faithful code port of the current 45ZCF-GREET grain-ethanol model, without running Excel or substituting proxy metrics.
What inputs does the model require?+
Key inputs include ethanol production volume, corn and grain-sorghum bushels, natural gas, electricity and grid region, coal use and type, RNG and CMM parameters, agricultural residue, and optional CCS tonnage.
What units does the score use?+
go45z reports carbon intensity in both g CO₂e/MJ and kg CO₂e/MMBtu. You can toggle between units at any time; the underlying score response is unchanged.
Is monetary value included?+
Yes. The dashboard displays a projected 45Z value using the headline kg CO₂e/MMBtu CI, rounded emissions-factor bin, ethanol gallons, and the selected PWA toggle. PWA is selected by default and uses the $1.00/gal table rate; turning it off uses the $0.20/gal base rate.
How is this different from the IRS spreadsheet?+
go45z calls a validated Python model service, reducing spreadsheet versioning and macro fragility while keeping inputs, outputs, and provenance audit-ready.