Good news for travel lovers who want to minimize their carbon footprint: The federal government just announced a multibillion-dollar investment into the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Reuters reported the Department of Energy is granting conditional loan guarantees amounting to nearly $3 billion to two companies.
One of those companies, Calumet, is developing SAF and other renewable fuels using vegetable oils, fats, and greases. The DOE's $1.44 billion grant will support the growth and expansion of Calumet's facility in Montana, enabling it to produce approximately 315 million gallons of biofuel per year.
🗣️ Which of the following sustainable changes would make you most likely to choose a particular airline?
🔘 Using cleaner fuel ⛽
🔘 Reducing in-flight waste 🗑️
🔘 Making it easy to choose low-emissions itineraries 📋
🔘 I don't pay attention to sustainability when I fly ✈️
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
The other company, Gevo, is developing a jet fuel made out of cornstarch to be produced at a facility in South Dakota. With its $1.46 billion loan, Gevo aims to operate the country's first commercial-scale facility producing corn-starch SAF using renewable power, Reuters reported.
Air travel is notorious for producing significant emissions. Our World in Data assessed that, for mid-length domestic trips, taking a train instead of a flight would reduce emissions anywhere from 86 to 97%.
Fortunately, aviation industry leaders are eager to innovate in order to allow flying to remain as a feasible option, even for climate-minded consumers. The International Civil Aviation Organization has set a goal of Net Zero by 2050, though many worry that they'll be racing against the clock to attain those goals.
That's why developing renewable biofuels is a key focus for the DOE. These fuels will likely be a major step in the journey to Net Zero, as most of the pollution that's generated by aviation is due to the burning of dirty fuels.
Accordingly, the government has set a goal of fueling all U.S.-based airlines with SAF by 2050; the Calumet facility alone has the potential to produce 10% of that supply, Reuters explained.
And while passengers might not see any real differences in their travel experience, it's good for climate-minded travelers to be aware of which airlines have a demonstrated commitment to producing and using SAF. Additionally, swapping out shorter flights for train rides or even drives could go a long way toward helping keep our planet cooler and more sustainable for generations to come.
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