• 2023-11-07

    Farm to Fly Act of 2023 (H.R. 6271)

    The Farm to Fly Act of 2023 (H.R. 6271) is a U.S. House bill introduced in November 2023 that updates agricultural law definitions to formally include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within USDA bioenergy programs. The bill aims to expand the domestic supply of cleaner aviation fuel by supporting American farmers and agricultural feedstocks as key sources for SAF production. It recognizes the partnership between the agricultural and aviation sectors as a means to boost rural economic development and domestic energy security.
  • Sustainable aviation fuels aren’t the answer; flying less is

    By Laura Gibbons and Brandon Bowersox-Johnson Special to The Seattle Times Despite The Seattle Times’ editorial board’s enthusiasm for sustainable aviation fuels, SAF remain a dangerous fantasy. If we buy into this myth, we will continue expanding air travel instead of what we actually must do: significantly reduce flights until real solutions are in place.
  • New $800M sustainable aviation fuel plant planned for Washington state

      1 of 2 | Amer Halilovic, working as a fueling agent, pulls a hose back to a hydrant cart (at right) after refueling an Alaska Airlines jet at Sea-Tac International Airport on Jan. 10, 2020. Dutch company SkyNRG has announced plans… (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times) By  Dominic Gates  Seattle Times aerospace reporter
  • Sustainable air travel is within reach

    By  Rachel King Special to The Times Boeing and NASA just announced a billion-dollar partnership to build the aircraft of the future. The new slender-winged jets, which could burn 30% less fuel than planes today, may zoom through the skies as soon as the 2030s. Improved fuel efficiency is good news, considering that air travel
  • Volts – What’s Going On With Biofuels?

    Although the article (and the evidence) on biofuels is clear, the subject of aviation comes up in the last eight minutes of the podcast. And it is agreed that aviation (and perhaps marine) are the only defensible uses of biofuels. However, there is a ceiling--the amount of biofuels that can be generated from waste materials. There is no, zero defensible use case for growing crops specifically for biofuels. In every such case, the net is a huge negative.
  • 2022-10-26

    Sustainable Aviation Fuels Grand Challenge update

    This October 2022 FAA presentation by Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor Dr. Jim Hileman outlines the agency's efforts to advance Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) as a key strategy for reducing aviation's carbon footprint. SAF are 'drop-in' fuels compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure, capable of significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions across their full lifecycle—from feedstock production to combustion. The FAA supports multiple approved SAF production pathways and works with federal partners and international bodies to scale up SAF use as part of broader aviation decarbonization goals.
  • 2020-09-01

    Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Review of Technical Pathways

    This U.S. Department of Energy report, prepared by researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the University of Dayton, reviews the technical pathways for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — alternative fuels designed to reduce the environmental impact of commercial aviation. The report synthesizes findings from multiple expert workshops and evaluates various methods for converting renewable resources into jet fuel. It is intended to inform policymakers, fuel producers, and aviation stakeholders about viable routes toward cleaner air travel.
  • There Is No Sustainable Way to Fly

    Despite what airlines promise, carbon offsets and sustainable fuels won’t negate the heavy environmental cost of air travel. by Jake Bittle This article originally appeared on VICE US. Last month, just weeks after climate activist Greta Thunberg was named Time’s Person of the Year, JetBlue announced that it would go carbon neutral on all its
  • Continental Airlines flight is first in U.S. to use biofuel

    Reporting from Chicago —  Continental Airlines flight 1403 made history when it landed at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Monday, becoming the first revenue passenger trip in the U.S. powered by biofuel. The Boeing 737-800 burned a “green jet fuel” derived partially from genetically modified algae that feed on plant waste and produce oil. In
  • 2011-01-01

    Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest: Powering the next generation of flight

    The 2011 Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest report examines how the Pacific Northwest region can develop and supply renewable alternative fuels for the aviation industry, reducing dependence on conventional jet fuel. Sponsored by Alaska Airlines, Boeing, the Port of Seattle, and other regional organizations, the report evaluates feedstocks such as oilseeds, forest residues, algae, and solid waste, along with the technologies and supply chains needed to bring these fuels to market.