HOUSTON, TEXAS - The Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels(ACAF) coalition hosted a fireside chat at theNational Conservative Energy Summit(NCES) in Houston, Texas.Neil Hansen, Senior Vice President of Global Energy Products at ExxonMobil, andEmily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, discussed the collaboration needed between oil, gas and biofuels to meet SAF goals set by the U.S. airline industry. The discussion was moderated bySamantha Dravis, ACAF Board Chair and Principal & Chief Operating Officer at AxAdvocacy.

NCES brought together conservative clean energy advocates, policy experts, state and federal leaders and technical specialists with a shared focus on developing a clean energy future rooted in conservative principles. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key component of this strategy, recognized as the most promising, in-production and scalable lever to accelerate progress toward a net zero future in the aviation industry.

ACAF, a national coalition of industry leaders from the aviation, manufacturing, energy and agricultural sectors, participated in the summit alongside two founding members.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING 

Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy (ACAF Founding Member): “From the biofuel perspective, we're incredibly excited about this market opportunity. If you're looking at a hard to abate sector like aviation, you really need all the tools in the toolbox. Ethanol is going to help provide the volume needed to be able to achieve the goals that the airlines have set out.”

Neil Hansen, SVP of Global Energy Products, ExxonMobil (ACAF Founding Member): “I think what's powerful is the fact that across these industries, we have very natural partnerships. We're getting an alignment on the structure of a policy that's needed. We need strong partners and advocates on both sides of the aisle to recognize that if we're going to be competitive in the United States, we need to establish that policy framework. I think it begins with us articulating what we need, and it's very powerful we can do that across many segments of our businesses here in the United States.”

ON REGULATORY AND POLICY CHANGES NEEDED: 

Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy (ACAF Founding Member): “The truth is, right now, there are a lot of people sitting on the sidelines in my industry. We are ready to go. We want to put steel in the ground. We want to create clean energy jobs. Farmers want to be doing more in terms of some sustainable farming practices. But until we get guidance from Washington that says, ‘yes, if you do this, it will equate to the following,’ a lot of the conversation will be less with the industry. It’s more educating Washington.”

Neil Hansen, SVP of Global Energy Products, ExxonMobil (ACAF Founding Member): “Reducing emissions from the transportation sector is going to require a lot of different solutions, market-based approaches and collaboration. That's collaboration across oil and gas producers, feedstock producers, policymakers and customers. Part of the reason is that whether you produce sustainable aviation fuel from vegetables oils or waste oils or ethanol, it is a more expensive feed. You need policy in place to support or send a market signal.”