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Support grows for sustainable aviation fuel

A policy expert in the airline industry says sustainable aviation fuel can be a worldwide opportunity to help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Jeff Davidman, vice president of government affairs with Delta Air Lines, says the fuel can accelerate progress toward a net zero future. “We use about four billion gallons of conventional jet fuel every year,” he said. “We’ve made a commitment, as have our partners in the U.S. airline industry, to try and take 10% of conventional jet fuel and make that sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.”

But he tells Brownfield significant investments are needed to boost production. He says their goal is to use three billion gallons annually by 2030, but only 20 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel is currently being produced.

“We know we can’t do this alone as just the airlines,” he said. “We need everybody in the value chain: the farmers, the producers, the technology, all the way to the airport and to the wings of the plane. And so we need to work on this together to try and solve this great challenge.”

Congressional lawmakers have increased their support for the development of sustainable aviation fuel. The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act, introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate, would give the fuel access to USDA bio-energy programs.

The bill has received widespread support from state and national agricultural groups as well as several airlines and associations.