The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing $291 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for projects that will help achieve the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 2050 as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. The Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) grants include:
$244.5 million for 22 projects that produce, transport, blend or store sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and for scoping studies related to SAF infrastructure needs. SAFs are jet fuels made from renewable sources that reduce carbon pollution on a lifecycle basis compared to conventional jet fuel and can be used safely in today’s aircraft and engines. These grants will expand SAF production, enhance SAF supply chains, and increase SAF accessibility.
$46.5 million for 14 projects that develop, demonstrate or apply low-emission aviation technologies. These grants will reduce carbon pollution, improve aircraft fuel efficiency, and increase SAF use.
Example grant awards include:
$8 million to JetZero, Inc. to develop key enabling technologies for a highly fuel efficient blended-wing-body airplane. This work will occur in Long Beach, California; Wichita, Kansas; and Starkville, Mississippi.
$2.7 million to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to build a test facility to mature high-power electrified airplane technologies.