Southwest Airlines has announced an investment in a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Southwest is investing in SAFFiRE Renewables, a company formed by D3MAX, LLC (D3MAX), to develop and produce scalable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Funded with a DOE grant matched by Southwest’s investment, SAFFiRE is expected to utilize technology developed by …
SAF Coalition Welcomes President’s Remarks
The Business Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel was pleased to hear President Joe Biden’s support for the goal of increasing SAF production when he spoke last week at an ethanol plant in Iowa. “I’ve set a goal of zero-carbon for aviation sector, for example, by 2050. I’ve spoken with the leading heads of all major airlines. It’s going to require …
Canola Oil Proposed as Advanced Biofuel Feedstock
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) pathways for biofuels produced from canola/rapeseed oil. The agency issued a proposed notice of rulemaking this week and is providing an opportunity for comment on the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis of these pathways. EPA’s assessment considers diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, naphtha, and liquefied petroleum gas …
President Biden Announces Emergency Waiver for E15
President Joe Biden visited the POET Bioprocessing facility in Menlo, Iowa Tuesday to formally announce an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) to be sold this summer. President Biden said adding ethanol to our gasoline reduces our reliance on foreign oil and gives consumers a choice at the pump. “When you have a choice, you have competition, …
Gevo Testifies at House Ag Committee Hearing
Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber presented testimony before the House Agriculture Committee this week on the future of climate smart crops and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with updated carbon accounting and a system that rewards farmers for sustainable practices. “Net zero hydrocarbon drop in fuels are what the marketplace is interested in,” Gruber told the committee, outlining Gevo’s concept of a …
Ethanol Industry Sets Sights on the Sky
Sustainable aviation fuel is getting to be known by the ethanol industry as just “SAF” as it is being seen as a major opportunity for ethanol. The 2022 National Ethanol Conference devoted a whole panel to the subject, including two SAF producers, Gevo and LanzaJet, which are using ethanol derived from crop residue and waste sources by Alcohol-to-Jet processing. “Ethanol …
REG Makes Strategic European Investments
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. announced a couple of strategic European investments this week. First, REG will install a state-of-the-art pretreatment facility in Germany, enabling the company to refine some of the lowest carbon intensity, hardest to convert waste fats and oils for bio-based diesel production. The project is located on the North Sea harbor of Emden, Germany at the border …
USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Commodities
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Jefferson City, Missouri yesterday to announce $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse …
Coalition Urges RFS Update for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Membersof the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide greater opportunities for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in response to a request for comments on a proposed RFS rule, the Business Aviation Coalition for …
Clean Fuels in the Age of Decarbonization
Biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel can work together to provide solutions for decarbonization. A panel at the 2022 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo discussed ways the industry can begin to meet the needs of growing and expanding markets when it comes to reducing carbon. One key message was shared by Gary Louis of Seaboard Energy. “We realize, as …