Sustainable aviation fuel stakeholders form SAF Coalition

Forty companies and organizations that hold a stake in the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) united April 29 to announce the formation of the SAF Coalition.

The organization is comprised of airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft-equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, labor unions and biofuel producers.

The goal of this new nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition is to rapidly scale investment in the SAF sector and advocate for the incentives and policies necessary to promote U.S. economic competitiveness in the emerging SAF marketplace.

While SAF Coalition members have been working together informally for years, this newly formed organization will leverage the collective strength of the entirety of the SAF value chain to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels in the U.S.

“SAF will enhance domestic energy security, create new markets for American farmers, reduce aviation emissions and drive next-generation technology development,” said Alison Graab, the executive director of the SAF Coalition. “The membership of this coalition shows the deep support that SAF enjoys across aviation’s many stakeholders. Federal policies that support and increase SAF production will create jobs, spur innovation, reduce the environmental impacts of jet fuel and enhance American energy security.”

Aviation accounts for roughly 12 percent of global transportation emissions and 2 percent to 3 percent of all carbon-dioxide emissions.

SAF is a lower-carbon aviation fuel produced from a variety of feedstocks such as renewable biomass and waste resources that serve as a substitute to traditional jet fuel made from crude oil.

SAF has chemical and physical properties similar to traditional jet fuel and does not require modifications to aircraft or infrastructure.

SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 percent on a lifecycle basis compared to traditional jet fuel.

Despite its potential, the SAF market is still in its infancy, and its current production capacity is limited, making it roughly two- to four-times more costly than traditional jet fuel.

The SAF Coalition supports policies that will expand the supply of low-carbon, commercially competitive SAF; enhance U.S. economic competitiveness in the SAF marketplace; develop a robust and competitive market for SAF; and create jobs while increasing U.S. fuel production and innovation.

SAF Coalition members include: