In Case You Missed It: President of the Ohio Soybean Association and third-generation farmer Rusty Goebel authored an op-ed in the Toledo Blade calling on lawmakers to support policies to boost the production and scale of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Domestic SAF production will not only pave the way for decarbonizing the aviation industry, but it will also create good-paying jobs for Americans and support the agricultural industry, especially throughout the state of Ohio. Goebel argues that Ohio’s leadership in aviation innovation, manufacturing strength and booming agricultural production make the state a prime location to lead SAF production in the United States. 

The Ohio Soybean Association is a founding member of Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels, a diverse coalition of the nation’s largest industrial sectors that is focused on building a robust U.S. market for clean aviation fuels. 

Ohio is Poised to Power Next Generation of Flight

By: Rusty Goebel 

Toledo Blade 

March 30, 2024 

Over a century ago, Ohio secured its place in history as a launchpad for American aviation innovation. It stood again on the forefront of the transportation transformation as the state became a leading producer of corn ethanol.

Today, we once again have an enormous opportunity to lead the nation with game-changing innovation in the development and scale of clean aviation fuel, specifically bio-based sustainable aviation fuel or SAF. Powering flights with homegrown SAF will not only create good paying jobs for Ohioans, but it will create a ripple effect across our entire state’s economy.

Demand for SAF already exists — both in the U.S. and globally. That’s because businesses and governments recognize that SAF is the most promising lever that exists today to decarbonize the aviation industry. But there’s a huge problem: there isn’t enough SAF in the world to power U.S. airlines for a single day. And therein lies the opportunity. Ohio already has all the key ingredients to supercharge the SAF market. With our robust aerospace industry, manufacturing leadership, and hard-working farmers, Ohio can and should get in on the ground floor of a movement that is about to take off.

There are 25,000 row crop farms across our state, 97 percent of which are family-run, representing a significant part of Ohio’s economy. Of particular importance, Ohio is home to two essential feedstocks for SAF: soybeans and corn. Ohio soybean yields rank fifth in the nation, and we produced the seventh- largest supply of corn in America in 2022 — resulting in over 3 billion in export revenue every year for the two crops combined.

Meanwhile, Ohio’s well-earned reputation as a powerhouse in aerospace manufacturing and R&D makes us well-suited to lead the future of sustainable flight. Our state is the number one supplier to aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, with over 565 aerospace and aviation firms supporting 110,000 employees. We boast the third-largest manufacturing work force in the country and are number seven in America for aerospace and defense jobs. This in-place work force means that Ohio already has its foot on the gas and is ready to mobilize to capture investments in SAF production which will deliver economic benefits for years to come.

To reach their emissions goals, airlines are vocal about supporting the nascent SAF market and are committed to buying millions of gallons of SAF when it becomes available. There’s only one piece of the puzzle missing: a growth-oriented policy framework from lawmakers that will enable the scale of homegrown SAF, including longer-term production tax credits for SAF feedstocks like soybeans and corn, and carbon intensity models that recognize the emission-reduction potential of SAF.

SAF is a smart economic investment for Ohio and America. It makes sense for jobs, the economy, American energy security, and will meaningfully reduce the aviation industry’s carbon emissions. With pro growth, pro-innovation policies in place, Ohio stands to lead the nation in getting SAF off the ground and into the air.

Rusty Goebel is a third-generation farmer and the president of the Ohio Soybean Association. The Ohio Soybean Association is a founding member of the Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels coalition.