Roadmap to a Sustainable Aviation Future

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) due to its significant feedstock availability, existing infrastructure, and legislative support, despite currently lacking active SAF production [9][10] - The SAF Grand Challenge aims for the U.S. to produce 3 billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030, with the RMR targeting 126 million gallons by 2030 and 1.631 billion gallons by 2050, highlighting the need for strategic actions to meet these goals [21][49] - The report identifies various SAF production pathways, including HEFA, ATJ, and FT, with specific feedstocks such as used cooking oil, corn ethanol, municipal solid waste, and forest residues being evaluated for their potential in the RMR [24][25][49] Summary by Sections SAF Supply in the Rocky Mountain Region - The RMR currently has no active SAF producers, but significant bio-based feedstock potential exists, including used cooking oil, corn ethanol, municipal solid waste, and forest residues [24] - The SAF production potential in the RMR is estimated at 197 million gallons in 2030, exceeding the regional SAF Grand Challenge benchmark, but falls short of the 2050 target [49] Jet Fuel Demand in the Rocky Mountain Region - Airports in the RMR rely on conventional fossil-based jet fuels, with a growing demand for jet fuel driven by economic activity and population growth [11][12] - The RMR faces a gap between jet fuel demand and in-region refinery capacity, presenting an opportunity for local SAF production [13] Policy and Infrastructure - The report discusses the importance of federal policies, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides financial support for SAF production and encourages the use of feedstocks and hydrogen [60][61] - The SAF tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act incentivize fuels that achieve a life-cycle GHG reduction of at least 50% compared to traditional jet fuel [61][64] Production Pathways - The report evaluates various SAF production pathways, including HEFA, ATJ, and FT, with HEFA being the most commercially mature pathway [32][34] - The PtL pathway, while currently the least mature, has the potential to meet future SAF demand without the constraints of biogenic feedstocks [53][54] Conclusion - The report emphasizes the need for collaboration among stakeholders to develop the SAF industry in the RMR, leveraging existing resources and infrastructure to meet ambitious SAF production targets [10][50]