By Scout Nelson
Minnesota is taking major steps toward cleaner air travel with $75,000 in new state funding for research on crops used in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The announcement was made on Earth Day by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, where researchers are growing crops like pennycress and camelina.
SAF is created from plant-based sources such as soybeans, corn, camelina, and pennycress. It can be blended with regular jet fuel and used in planes without any engine changes. Compared to traditional jet fuel, SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent. This aligns with growing efforts by the airline industry to lower emissions without reducing flights.
MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler highlighted the importance of SAF, calling aviation a hard sector to decarbonize. She noted that this funding gives Minnesota the chance to lead in clean fuel solutions.
The funding supports a study that plans to plant one million acres of camelina across the region. These winter-hardy crops could help reduce erosion, improve soil health, and keep fields active during colder months.
Mitch Hunter, co-director of the Forever Green Initiative, explained that current spring conditions leave about 17 million Minnesota acres unused. Filling that space with winter crops would benefit both the environment and the aviation sector.
The MPCA funding adds to a previous $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the federal support is now uncertain due to possible budget cuts, making the state’s contribution even more vital.
“This project will create a road map for building the full SAF supply chain,” said Hunter.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-brian-brown
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Energy