TagSustainable Aviation Fuels(82)

The Port of Seattle presented an environmental review of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of its Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The projects include expanding passenger terminals and gates to handle a projected 56 million annual passengers, adding cargo and fuel storage facilities, and upgrading airfield infrastructure to meet current FAA safety standards. The review was presented to the Highline Forum in May 2024 by Senior Environmental Program Manager Steve Rybolt.

The Farm to Fly Act is a proposed piece of U.S. legislation aimed at promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by expanding their eligibility within USDA bioenergy programs, encouraging federal agency collaboration, and establishing a standardized definition of SAF. The bill seeks to create new markets for American farmers by connecting agricultural crops and biomass to aviation fuel production, while also boosting rural economic development and domestic energy security. It is backed by a broad coalition of agricultural organizations, renewable fuel producers, and major U.S. airlines.

A May 2024 report by the Institute for Policy Studies argues that the private jet industry uses 'Sustainable Aviation Fuels' (SAF) as a marketing tool to deflect criticism of its environmental impact, rather than as a genuine climate solution. The report finds that SAF is often not truly sustainable, is limited in supply, comes at high cost, and has been shaped by industry lobbying to weaken meaningful standards. The authors recommend stronger fuel taxes, transparency requirements, bans on short-hop flights, and greater investment in public transportation as more effective alternatives.

In April 2024, a broad coalition of aviation, agriculture, and biofuel organizations wrote to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provisions in the Farm Bill. The letter specifically supports the Farm to Fly Act, which would expand USDA energy programs to recognize SAF feedstocks from American farms, promote collaboration between agriculture and aviation sectors, and establish a common emissions measurement standard. The signatories argue this would benefit U.S. farmers, rural economies, and the aviation industry's goal of producing 3 billion gallons of SAF by 2030.