State poised to power planes with pulp, not petroleum - Session Daily - Minnesota House of Representatives

The United States is exploring the potential of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from residual wood products and other non-petroleum-based sources to reduce the carbon footprint of airplanes. Rick Horton, Executive Vice President of Minnesota Forest Industries, highlighted the need for scaling up the technology. Jeff Davidman from Delta Air Lines noted that SAF costs two to five times more than conventional jet fuel, but demand is high as airlines aim for net-zero emissions by 2050. Andrea Vaubel from the Department of Agriculture emphasized Minnesota’s readiness with available feedstocks and urged legislative support for tax credits to boost the SAF industry.