Georgia SAF Coalition Launched by Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Forestry Association, and Delta Air Lines
Why It MattersThe initiative signals growing state-level efforts to link forestry and agricultural feedstock supply chains with aviation fuel producers to scale regional SAF production.
Georgia agriculture and forestry producers and the business community have formed the Georgia Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition, aimed at positioning the state as a national leader in sustainable aviation fuel research and production. Founding organizations include the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Forestry Association, and Delta Air Lines, with anchor partners Boeing, Cox Enterprises, and Norfolk Southern, plus support from RYAM and Gulfstream Aerospace.
The coalition's immediate priorities are recruiting SAF and biofuels facilities to Georgia, connecting university research to industry needs, and building a supply chain linking the state's forests and farms to aviation customers. The launch follows Georgia's Keep Georgia Forested Act, signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp in May 2026, which encourages investment in forestry manufacturing including biofuels production and allows certain tax credits to be transferred so companies can monetize them during early construction and operations.
Prior to the formal launch, members joined the Georgia Research Alliance in advocating for state funding for a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar position focused on the forestry sector, including biofuels opportunities. Georgia is the top forestry state in the nation, with 22 million acres of working forests, and its agricultural base, research institutions, and logistics infrastructure are cited as key assets for SAF development.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden expressed support for the initiative, noting that SAF represents a significant opportunity for the nation's agricultural and forestry sectors and rural communities. Delta Air Lines President Peter Carter said Georgia is well positioned to become a national leader in SAF, and Metro Atlanta Chamber President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick said the effort brings global companies, producers, researchers, and the agricultural community together to build a biofuels ecosystem serving the entire state.
