Regulatory Alert: FAA Announces $291 Million in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grant Awards
FAA Announces $291 Million in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grant Awards
August 16, 2024
Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced about $291 million in grant awards for projects that will promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and low-emissions aviation technologies. The awards include $244.5 million for 22 projects that will produce, transport, blend or store SAF and enable scoping studies related to SAF infrastructure needs and another $46.5 million for 14 projects relating to low-emission aviation technologies.
The Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition through Sustainable Aviation Fuels (FAST-SAF) Grant Program was created by Congress in August 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Many airports, working with their industry partners, applied for planning grants in late 2023 to better understand SAF-related infrastructure needs at their facilities.
Of the 36 projects that will receive grants, 7 projects will focus on studying supply chains and infrastructure and distribution needs to enable SAF deployment at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Piedmont Triad International, Washington Dulles International, Philadelphia International, regional airports near Pittsburgh International, and throughout the state of Alaska.
You can view the FAA’s interactive map of grant awards here and press release here.
Background on FAST-SAF Grant Program. The IRA, which was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, provided FAA with about $297 million to carry out a competitive grant program and fund projects aimed at advancing the production and use of SAFs and low-emissions aviation technologies. One of the key priorities is to further the SAF Grand Challenge and aviation climate goals that the Biden Administration has established, which include achieving 3 billion gallons of domestic SAF production and use by 2030 and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
What’s Next? In its notice of funding opportunity, which was released in fall 2023, FAA originally stated that FAST-SAF grant funding would be awarded in two separate phases; however, the announcement today eliminates that possibility, as nearly all the available funding has now been awarded. The program will conclude following completion of the 36 projects that will receive grants.
August 16, 2024
Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced about $291 million in grant awards for projects that will promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and low-emissions aviation technologies. The awards include $244.5 million for 22 projects that will produce, transport, blend or store SAF and enable scoping studies related to SAF infrastructure needs and another $46.5 million for 14 projects relating to low-emission aviation technologies.
The Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition through Sustainable Aviation Fuels (FAST-SAF) Grant Program was created by Congress in August 2022 through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Many airports, working with their industry partners, applied for planning grants in late 2023 to better understand SAF-related infrastructure needs at their facilities.
Of the 36 projects that will receive grants, 7 projects will focus on studying supply chains and infrastructure and distribution needs to enable SAF deployment at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Piedmont Triad International, Washington Dulles International, Philadelphia International, regional airports near Pittsburgh International, and throughout the state of Alaska.
You can view the FAA’s interactive map of grant awards here and press release here.
Background on FAST-SAF Grant Program. The IRA, which was signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, provided FAA with about $297 million to carry out a competitive grant program and fund projects aimed at advancing the production and use of SAFs and low-emissions aviation technologies. One of the key priorities is to further the SAF Grand Challenge and aviation climate goals that the Biden Administration has established, which include achieving 3 billion gallons of domestic SAF production and use by 2030 and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
What’s Next? In its notice of funding opportunity, which was released in fall 2023, FAA originally stated that FAST-SAF grant funding would be awarded in two separate phases; however, the announcement today eliminates that possibility, as nearly all the available funding has now been awarded. The program will conclude following completion of the 36 projects that will receive grants.
