The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act was brought before the Senate by Ms. Duckworth along with Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Grassley on June 13, 2023. The bill was then passed to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review.
The proposed Act centers on a new operational definition of “sustainable aviation fuel.” Should the Act hold fast, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be mandated to have regulations in place to supply a standardized definition of this term within 60 days from the Act’s effective date.
The key to this bill? It’s not about the aviation fuel we’ve come to know, but instead focuses on an entirely different formulation. This law signifies a transition to “sustainable aviation fuel,” which is, by this bill’s definition, a liquid fuel with parts not made of kerosene. The more technical side of the standardized definition comes down to four key points.
First off, the fuel needs to be compliant with specified international standards. Next, the source of this fuel can’t be from a mix of applicable materials (that could be things like fatty acids or esters) with anything but biomass, a renewable energy source which, simply put, comes from plants and animals. Here’s a third piece of the puzzle: the fuel cannot be derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum. Lastly, the fuel has to be vouched for by reliable sources – certified as decreasing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least half, when stacked up against petroleum-based jet fuel.
Just imagine the standard fuel we use now being in an arm-wrestling duel with the new sustainable aviation fuel, the latter of which flexes its muscle with a 50 percent greater reduction in greenhouse gas releases. On a broader canvas, this bill fits in neatly into the bigger picture pointing towards more sustainable practices to combat climate change.
How does this affect the common folk? Think of it like this: each plane that takes the sky, swims through the clouds, and lands safely with this new sustainable fuel is really a feather in the cap for global health. With less harmful emissions spewed out, we’re all beneficiaries of cleaner air, likely preventing health hazards linked to greenhouse gases. Yes, indeed, clearer skies could be on the horizon.
But all these rosy forecasts don’t come without possible thistles. While the benefits for climate health are likely significant, there could be economic repercussions. Industries and organizations tied to the production of traditional aviation fuels – think petroleum, palm derivatives – might face hardships and may have to adapt and pivot in response to the legislation.
Considering the road ahead, the bill must wind through the corridors of legislative process. Next steps involve review and debates within the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. If it successfully navigates this stage, it then moves forward for consideration by the House of Representatives, before ultimately landing a possible signature by the President to become law.
The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, evidently, sets the stage for a change in how we fly. It’s a jetstream to more sustainable living, painted with the colors of global environmental health. With every ‘whoosh’ of an airplane overhead, it’s a reminder that change could be in the air – not just in the birds and clouds but in the very fuel that powers each flight. So, with an ear to the sky, we listen and wait as the rumble of legislation rolls towards potential change.
