A group of aviation stakeholders have welcomed congressional legislation including provisions aimed squarely at promoting the development and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
The House and Senate approved the legislation as part of a fiscal year 2020 appropriations package. The language contains a renewal-and-extension of the biodiesel tax incentive, for which certain fuels are eligible.
The tax incentive is vital to the industry’s efforts to research, produce and scale SAF use. The use of SAF, alongside continual advancements in fuel efficiency, advanced aerodynamics and noise reduction is integral to the commitment made 10 years ago by the business aviation community to sustainability and carbon neutral growth.
The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Coalition – which includes the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) – has already demonstrated the safe, real-world use of SAF. The stakeholders group is part of a growing coalition advocating for a broader and long-term SAF tax credit.
“This is a great example of the aviation industry working together and pushing for an incentive from Congress for companies to invest in the production of SAF,” said Timothy Obitts, COO of NATA. He added that these tax incentives “alongside initiatives like California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Programme, will help create the supply of sustainable aviation fuels that the business aviation industry is demanding. SAF is one of the critical pieces that will help the industry achieve cleaner skies for future generations.”
Meanwhile NBAA President and CEO, Ed Bolen, commented that SAF can “reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% and are a critical part of business aviation’s commitment to sustainability.”
Kurt Edwards, Director General of IBAC, said that “congressional action to renew and extend the biodiesel tax incentive demonstrates continued US leadership among its international peers to encourage the production and use of SAF, a critical technology to reducing aviation’s greenhouse-gas emissions.
