Sustainable aviation fuel is furthering U.S. energy security, creating new markets for agriculture and reducing carbon emissions.
Alison Graab
Executive Director, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition
Our nation has led the world in aviation ever since that historic flight outside Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, and the United States continues to play a leading role in aviation through continuous innovation. Today, aviation fuels America’s economy, enables our supply chain, and employs more than 10 million members of our workforce. It also accounts for roughly 12% of global transportation emissions and 2 to 3 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
The rush to meet future energy demand while minimizing our carbon footprint means that the United States must make rapid advancements in the production and use of new, cleaner fuels. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as the most effective way for America’s aviation industry to meet growing demand for fuel, strengthen domestic energy security, and achieve carbon emission reduction targets. The promise of SAF will not be realized, however, unless federal policy expands the incentives currently in place to accelerate the production, distribution, and consumption of SAF.
A market-ready solution
SAF provides several benefits to the environment and the economy, as it improves the efficiency and environmental impacts of jet fuel use. When deployed, SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional jet fuel. Because it can be blended with traditional jet fuel without the need to modify existing aircraft, SAF is the most market-ready solution for the aviation sector to reduce its carbon footprint.
SAF also supports America’s agricultural sector by creating new markets for farmers. SAF is made from various renewable feedstocks, and increased demand for these SAF inputs provides new avenues for farmers to sell their crops and make efficient use of their farmland. By diversifying their income sources, farmers can achieve greater financial stability and resilience amidst market fluctuations. Additionally, the growth of this market creates new opportunities for SAF producers to step in and scale output to meet demand.
Supporting production
Scaling the development and deployment of SAF requires federal incentives to support its low-cost, large-scale production. Existing tax credits represent an important first step toward enhanced SAF development and adoption, but Congressional leaders must act to support long-term, durable policies to accelerate domestic SAF production.
Already, tax incentives to accelerate the development of SAF enjoy broad, bipartisan, bicameral support from Congressional lawmakers. Now is the time for Congress to prioritize expanding federal policy incentives for SAF to accelerate its widespread adoption and help reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint. By providing these incentives, lawmakers can foster innovation, boost domestic energy security, and expand marketplaces through production, supporting both environmental goals and economic growth.
