When people think about cutting carbon emissions, aviation should top the list.
Flying is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Aircraft cannot simply plug into the grid, and technologies like hydrogen or fully electric planes remain years away from widespread use. The industry needs a solution that works now.
Sustainable aviation fuel is that solution.
Sustainable aviation fuel is an alternative to conventional jet fuel, usable in today’s aircraft without changing engines or fueling systems. That means emissions reductions can begin immediately, not decades from now.
SAF has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent to more than 80 percent over the life cycle of the fuel. It also cuts particulate pollution, improving air quality in communities near airports. And it can be produced in the United States.
Such fuel can be produced by refining renewable feedstocks — such as used cooking oil, waste fats, and agricultural residues, such as straw or fruit peels, or through a synthetic process by combining carbon with hydrogen.
SAF is less harmful to the environment because of what it’s made from. It contains significantly lower amounts of sulfur and particulate matter, and emits less carbon dioxide compared to conventional jet fuel. This reduction results in cleaner engine combustion and improved local air quality around airports.
Despite these advantages, SAF still faces skepticism. Some question whether it can scale to service entire fleets. Others worry about cost, which is more expensive than jet fuel, or unintended consequences, like land-use impacts since SAF can be produced from corn ethanol, which some argue is not a good use of land. These are valid concerns, but they are not reasons to delay action. They are reasons to set strong standards, invest in innovation, and move faster.
The use of SAF could complement ongoing efforts in Massachusetts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through electrification and the development of more renewable energy sources. At Massport, we are electrifying vehicles, modernizing infrastructure, and designing buildings to use less energy. But the largest share of aviation-related emissions comes from burning jet fuel.
In the current supplemental state budget proposal, Governor Maura Healey and the House of Representatives included a tax incentive for airlines that use SAF in Massachusetts. Initiatives like this could attract more businesses and STEM jobs to the Commonwealth to produce SAF. This is a great first step.
The International Air Transport Association and its members are already moving toward SAF. States and regions that move early are shaping where SAF is produced, blended with conventional jet oil, and distributed, and where the associated jobs and investment ultimately land.
California, Washington, Illinois, and Wisconsin, along with aviation hubs across Europe and Asia, have adopted tax incentives and are building SAF ecosystems that connect production, infrastructure, and workforce development.
Massport helped create a regional working group last year that is partnering with industry and government agencies to help accelerate SAF adoption across New England. Local technology innovators like Sora Fuel and Lydian Labs, based in Cambridge and Charlestown, respectively, are advancing clean fuel technologies that would benefit from policies like a SAF tax credit and could drive future employment and growth associated with the clean energy and technology sectors.
Major US airlines like Delta, American, United, and JetBlue, alongside their international counterparts, are using SAF today and have committed billions to procurement. Those dollars could soon land in Massachusetts.
Smart policies, targeted incentives, clear sustainability standards, and support for regional infrastructure could lower barriers to entry and attract private capital. These actions wouldn’t just reduce emissions; they could build durable industries.
SAF is not a silver bullet, and it won’t transform aviation overnight. But it offers the most potential for immediate and meaningful emissions reductions, helping both the climate and communities near airports across Massachusetts.
Importantly, SAF won’t require travelers to choose between affordability and climate responsibility. It reduces emissions without changing aircraft or safety standards, and without increasing air travel prices.
The SAF industry is still in its early stages, and there is real opportunity for economic growth. If done right, it can be scaled up. The Commonwealth should get in the game.
The path forward is clear: Scale nationwide production, support an SAF hub in the Northeast, and invest with urgency. Cleaner skies are possible using the tools already within our reach.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/05/opinion/sustainable-aviation-fuel