United committed to sustainable aviation fuel

CHICAGO — Corn farmers and the ethanol industry were recognized by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and United Airlines as a sustainable partner in lowering the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.

During a press conference July 31, the airline announced it is the first company to use sustainable aviation fuel at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. United’s one million gallons of SAF will begin arriving at O’Hare this month.

“Since day one as governor, I’ve committed to making Illinois a national leader in sustainability and clean energy, which is why I was proud to support a nation-leading SAF tax credit last year,” Pritzker said in a press release.

“Illinois’s position as a hub of innovation with some of the most connected airports in the country perfectly aligns with the work of companies like United to build a more sustainable future for travel and reach our shared goal of zero emissions.”

In 2020, United pledged to reduce 100% of the company’s carbon emissions by 2050.

“I am excited to see United and our state’s leadership recognize the environmental and economic benefits corn offers our transportation sector,” Victoria farmer and Illinois Corn Growers Association President Dave Rylander said.

“The SAF market will lower carbon emissions and has the opportunity to deliver the economic impact that will rejuvenate rural America.”

The ethanol-to-jet process allows corn to serve as a low carbon feedstock for SAF production. SAF made of corn is molecularly identical to petroleum jet fuel.

Corn-based SAF can reduce carbon emissions by over 50% when compared to conventional aviation fuel.

Illinois is uniquely positioned to be a national SAF leader as the first state with a $1.50 SAF purchaser tax credit. This is the first time United has applied for the credit in Illinois.

The state SAF purchaser incentive will expire Dec. 31, 2032.

A champion of corn, biofuels and SAF, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., shared her support in a press release.

“I’m pleased to see United Airlines making this significant move forward by using sustainable aviation fuel daily in flights from O’Hare,” she said.

“One of the most important things we can do to make American aviation more sustainable is increase the supply of SAF. At the federal level, I’ve been pushing for the increased use of SAF, and I’m going to keep pushing to increase the supply of American-grown, American-made SAF, a true win-win solution that supports domestic farmers and blenders while reducing our nation’s carbon footprint.”