ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA— Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels (ACAF) founding members Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil and Airlines for America (A4A) attended the 2024 North American SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) Conference & Expo to discuss the future of domestic SAF production. Peter Carter, Delta’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs, and Sean Newsum, A4A’s Managing Director of Environmental Affairs, joined a panel on the airline industry meeting the U.S. SAF Grand Challenge. Carolyn Ryeczek, ExxonMobil’s Americas Lower Emissions Fuels and Business Development Manager, spoke to SAF production pathways on the horizon and the oil and gas industry’s progress toward 100% SAF. 

Minnesota, where the conference was hosted, has made great strides in SAF policy and production. Since the formation of the Minnesota SAF Hub, a coalition built by the Greater MSP Partnership and backed by companies such as Delta Air Lines and Bank of America, Minnesota has become a leading example of what is possible when SAF advocacy efforts come to fruition. The Minnesota SAF Hub celebrated its first anniversary in late August, marking one year of work to scale the domestic SAF market.

Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the SAF Hub, Biodiesel Magazine reported Carter saying, “SAF is a proven way to reduce carbon emissions in the near term on our journey to net-zero emissions by 2050. While Delta has committed to purchasing millions of gallons of SAF, there isn’t enough being produced today to fuel the world’s commercial airlines for a single week. That’s why this blending facility is so important – it’s like hanging an ‘Open for Business’ sign to SAF producers to consider doing business in Minnesota, where we see SAF as a great opportunity for all players across the value chain. From financiers and farmers to producers and power generators, our investments are tangible as we draw the blueprint for a model that can be replicated to scale SAF across the country.”

The North American SAF Conference & Expo promotes the development and adoption of practical solutions to produce SAF and decarbonize the aviation sector, bringing together industry experts to share knowledge and help guide business decisions as the SAF industry continues to expand.