[ALTOONA, IOWA] — The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association held its annual Renewable Fuels Summit on Thursday, January 11 — the Midwest’s largest biofuels policy conference. Attendees included biofuels producers and supporters, policy experts and elected officials from across the U.S. — who came together to highlight the promising future of clean aviation fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the best known decarbonization lever the aviation industry has in the near-to-mid term on its journey to net-zero. 

As part of a national effort to promote the economic benefits of SAF and all clean aviation fuels, Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels (ACAF), a national coalition of industry leaders from the aviation, energy and agricultural sectors attended alongside its founding members Delta Air Lines and Growth Energy. 

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING 

Emily Skor, CEO - Growth Energy (ACAF Founding Member): “What was just a co-product is now the most important nutrient-rich animal feed in the world. Moving forward, our members are well-positioned to supply the feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel, a potential 25 billion gallon U.S. market in the decades ahead.” 

Jeff Davidman, Vice President, State & Local Government Affairs - Delta Air Lines (ACAF Founding Member): “So in the next six years, we have to get from 20 million to 3 billion gallons [of SAF] just here in the U.S. to meet our goals. That provides incredible opportunities for the Midwest, for Iowa and for farmers here.”

Monte Shaw, Executive Director - Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: “Finally, the world’s desire to decarbonize air travel presents the largest opportunity to transform rural America since the advent of corn hybrids. Think how the creation of a 14-billion-gallon domestic ethanol market for light duty vehicles pulled rural America out of the stagnation of the 1990s. Now, try to fathom the impact of adding a 35-billion-gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market. It’s mind boggling. Keep in mind that worldwide SAF demand is expected to be 100-billion-gallons by 2050.” 

Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture: “Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, said he expects federal officials will issue a ‘strong, significant message’ to the ethanol industry in March that it’s going to be part of low-carbon jet fuel production. ‘That is a big, big deal. Big, big deal,’ Vilsack said…”

Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa: “While I was encouraged again to see the guidance from the Treasury Department that would allow ethanol and biodiesel to be part of aviation's sustainable fuel solution, as you know and as I’ve indicated, we still must continue to hold the Administration to its promises.”

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Media Contact:

Mickey Sundermann

mickey@rokksolutions.com

About Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels (ACAF) 

ACAF is a dynamic coalition of industry leaders from the aviation, manufacturers, energy, and agriculture sectors, united in their mission to advance the production and adoption of clean aviation fuels. Committed to driving economic growth, reducing emissions, and bolstering national security, ACAF represents a pivotal force in propelling sustainable aviation practices in the U.S. while creating good-paying jobs. For more information about ACAF and to see a list of founding members, please visit www.americansforcleanaviationfuels.com