Georgia's Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition Targets Biofuel from Timber and Farm Waste for Hartsfield-Jackson Within Five Years
Why It MattersThe initiative signals growing airline-agriculture collaboration to build regional SAF feedstock supply chains as carriers seek to address persistent cost and availability constraints.
A new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition has formed in Georgia, bringing together major airlines and agricultural groups to research, develop, and produce biofuel from timber waste and farming materials. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the effort would help industries still recovering from Hurricane Helene by building new markets for timber and farm producers while meeting aviation fuel demand.
Delta Air Lines is among the key aviation partners, with Delta President Peter Carter predicting that Georgia would become a leader in the SAF economy and that flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport would be partly fueled by sustainable aviation fuel within a few years.
Metro Atlanta Chamber CEO Katie Kirkpatrick outlined near-term plans, including forming working groups on research, policy, feedstock and supply chain, and partner outreach, as well as hiring a dedicated Georgia Research Alliance scholar based at Georgia Southern University. Charlotte Lollar, Delta's Director of SAF and Emissions, said demand for sustainable aviation fuel exists but availability and cost remain the primary challenges, adding that policy support is critical to scaling production and reducing costs. New state income tax credits have been created for forestry manufacturing facilities producing renewable fuels, and the coalition aims to achieve a product demonstration within the next year.
