Fri, Nov 11, 2011
75 Flights Hailed As 'The Future Of Aviation' And Path To A New
Industry
Alaska Airlines inaugurated biofuel-powered passenger service
Wednesday afternoon with two flights from Seattle to Washington,
D.C., and Portland, OR. Alaska and its sister carrier, Horizon Air,
are operating 75 select flights between Seattle and the two cities
over the next few weeks using a 20 percent blend of sustainable
biofuel made from used cooking oil.
"Washington state is proud to be a part of this historic leap
forward for America's aviation biofuels industry," said Sen. Maria
Cantwell (D-WA). "By growing and producing our own biofuels, we can
reduce our exposure to volatile aviation fuel prices, boost our
local economies and minimize our carbon footprint. The growth and
manufacturing of these fuels could establish a supply chain that
has the potential to employ thousands of Washingtonians. As chair
of the Aviation Subcommittee, I'll ensure that America builds on
this moment and continues to invest in biofuels."
Alaska Air Group estimates the 20 percent certified biofuel
blend it is using for the 75 flights will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by an estimated 10 percent—the equivalent of taking
26 cars off the road for a year. If the company powered all of its
flights with a 20 percent biofuel blend for one year, the annual
emissions savings would represent the equivalent of taking nearly
64,000 cars off the road or providing electricity to 28,000
homes.
"We are witnessing the future of aviation," said U.S. Democratic
Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington state. "This is another example of
how we are poised to create thousands of clean energy jobs right
here in Washington state. We can build an industry and market for
sustainable aviation fuels, and I intend to use Alaska Airlines'
biofuel efforts to continue to make the case to the administration
to locate a biorefinery in Washington."
There currently is no supply of aviation biofuels in the Pacific
Northwest, although potential sources were identified during a
regional assessment by the Sustainable Aviation Fuels
Northwest group earlier this year. Alaska Air Group
purchased the fuel through SkyNRG, an aviation biofuels broker. The
biofuel was made by Dynamic Fuels at its facility in Geismar,
LA.
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