FAA announces $245 million in grant funding for SAF-infrastructure projects

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Sept. 25 nearly $300 million in funding for projects to help achieve America’s goal of net-zero emissions from aviation by 2050.

The application window is now open for $245 million in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) infrastructure projects and $47 million in low-emission aviation technology projects.

The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The new Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition SAF (FAST-SAF) grants will focus on producing, transporting and blending sustainable aviation fuel.

These projects will build up regional SAF supply chains and increase SAF use.

FAST-Tech funds will accelerate aviation-technology projects that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, improve aircraft fuel efficiency and increase the usage of sustainable aviation fuel.

Eligible entities for the program are broad.

They include airports, air carriers, universities, aviation and aerospace companies, state and local governments and nonprofit organizations.

The competitive grant process opened Sept. 25.

The FAA’s target for the first round of grant awards is mid-2024.

“We look forward to receiving applications that can help accelerate the use of high-integrity SAF and the development of powerful low-emission aviation technologies,” said Laurence Wildgoose with FAA.

Read the notice-of-funding opportunity here.