On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it was awarding $300 million to invest in sustainable aviation fuel and related technologies.
The funding, through the Inflation Reduction Act, will help push the industry to the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals set by the Biden administration.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to enhancing the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our national air transportation system—and reaching our mid-century target of net-zero emissions,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said. “These grants will help put the world on a path toward decarbonizing aviation while fostering domestic economic growth and ensuring the U.S. retains its global leadership in aviation.”
The Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) grants include $244.5 million for 22 projects that produce, transport, blend or store sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and for scoping studies related to SAF infrastructure needs, and $46.5 million for 14 project that develop, demonstrate or apply low-emission aviation technologies which will reduce carbon pollution, improve aircraft fuel efficiency and increase SAF use.
“The projects are instrumental in advancing our environmental and economic sustainability goals by facilitating the development and implementation of sustainable aviation fuels,” Laurence Wildgoose, FAA Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs and Environment, said. “All grant recipients are based in the U.S. and are working towards putting the aviation sector on a path toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan.”
Among the awards were $16.8 million to Gevo, Inc., to convert an existing fuel facility in Luverne, Minn.; $2.7 million for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to build a test facility; and $240,000 to the City of Atlanta to conduct a study of regional supply chains, infrastructure and distribution needs that would enable SAF deployment at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.