In an announcement made today at San Francisco International Airport, the California Air Resources Board and Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade organization representing nearly a dozen major airlines, committed to a goal of increasing the availability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use within California to 200 million gallons by 2035, an amount that would meet about 40% of intrastate travel demand – a more than tenfold increase from current levels.
Sustainable aviation fuel is a low-carbon alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel. It is made from renewable biomass and/or waste. The agreement accelerates solutions to California’s climate and air quality goals by partnering with the aviation industry in emissions reduction efforts, and it supports a commitment by the major U.S. airlines to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which will require completely transitioning from conventional petroleum-based jet fuel to sustainable alternatives.
This collaboration is an example of California’s partnerships with industry to move toward a clean air future, and one that was made possible by the development of alternative fuels spurred by the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program that provide the industry lower-carbon, sustainable options.
