Policies to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) have been adopted or are being considered by several U.S. states. This paper “SAF policy scorecard: Evaluating state-level sustainable aviation fuel policies in the United States” by ICCT compares key provisions in these state policies, analyzes the support offered by state programs to U.S.-relevant SAF pathways, and assesses each policy’s ability to support the goals of long-term decarbonization, sustainability, and equity.
Analysis highlights several shortcomings with many current policies. First, state support for some SAF production pathways may not lead to an increase in the total supply of low-carbon fuel; instead, fuel and feedstock could be redirected from other climate-friendly uses to take advantage of state SAF subsidies. Second, the short duration of some policies means they are unlikely to trigger investments in the advanced SAF pathways needed to meet aviation climate targets. And third, existing policy frameworks subsidize the use of SAF without also imposing a penalty on aviation emissions, violating the “polluter pays” principle.
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