First-Ever Washington Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Summit to Address Missing Links in Sustainable Fuels Value Chain

With the Washington legislature’s consideration of a Clean Fuel Standard and commitments from the aviation and transportation industries, Washington is closer than ever before to developing a local supply chain of clean and sustainable fuels for aviation.

Next week Ray Mabus, former Secretary of the Navy and a leader in transitioning the Navy to sustainable fuels, will be in Seattle to join Washington’s aviation, research, finance, and agricultural leaders in a two-day discussion on strategies to develop local sustainable fuels for aviation in Washington state. 

Mr. Mabus will give the keynote address at the Washington Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Summit, sponsored by Earth Day Northwest 2020, the Port of Seattle, Boeing, Alaska Air, and Delta Air Lines. The two-day conference brings Washington’s most innovative industries together to develop a local supply chain of clean and sustainable fuels for aviation.

This is a make or break time for the climate and for the transportation sector. Transportation contributes more carbon emissions than any other sector in WA state. While aviation contributes just a slice of those emissions, the Port of Seattle is determined to reduce the carbon emissions from jet fuel.

Despite a statewide emphasis on sustainability, there is still is no Washington-based supply of sustainable fuel for aviation. Washington state is home to several innovative biofuel production companies, but they export their supply to California, Oregon, and British Columbia where a statewide “clean fuel standard” policy creates a more profitable market. 

Between the industry commitments and Washington legislature’s consideration of a Clean Fuel Standard, we are closer than ever before to developing a local supply chain of clean and sustainable fuels for aviation.

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Schedule of Events 

• When: Thursday, March 7 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Where: Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
• What: See below for the full conference agenda.
• Who: Local and national leaders on engaging and aligning the entire sustainable fuels value chain, including Former Secretary of the U.S. Navy Ray Mabus, Port of Seattle Commissioners Fred Felleman, Ryan Calkins and Peter Steinbrueck and executives from Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

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Summit Agenda 

Thursday, March 7, 2019 (Day One)

8:00 AM              Registration

9:00 AM              Welcome Remarks: Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman  

9:10 AM              Keynote: Former Secretary of the U.S. Navy Ray Mabus                                           

10:15 AM           State of the Industry: Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest

10:45 AM           Inside Project Deals/Fuel Producer Perspective: Jennifer Holmgren, LanzaTech

11:15 AM           Feedstock Options: Dr. Mike Wolcott, WSU/Ascent (Confirmation pending)

12:00 PM            Lunch and Keynote Remarks: Eric Toone, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

1:00 PM              The Business Side of Feedstocks: Bruce Comer, Ocean Park Advisors

1:30 PM              MSW Possibilities in Washington:John Plaza, Sustainable fuels entrepreneur

1:45 PM              Inside Project Deals/ Fuel Producer Perspective: Dave Kettner, Virent

2:15 PM              End User/ Offtaker Perspectives: Diana Birkett Rakow, Alaska and Tony Gonchar, Delta (Confirmation pending)

3:00 PM              Afternoon Break

3:30 PM              Clean Fuel Standards and other Policy Drivers: Colin Murphy, UC Davis (confirmation pending), Graham Noyes, Low Carbon Fuels Coalition and Philipp Stratmann, Velcoys

4:15 PM              Inside Project Deals/ Fuel Producer Perspective: Pat Gruber, GEVO

4:45 PM              Inside Project Deals/ Red Rock: John Saris, Business Oregon, Michael Shrader, Orrick Public Finance and Jeff Manternach, Red Rock Biofuels

5:15 PM              Closing Remarks/ Keynote

6:00 PM              Evening Networking Reception

Friday, March 8, 2019 (Day Two)

8:30 AM              Opening Remarks: Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins

8:30 AM              Morning Keynote 

9:00 AM              Sustainable Fuel Certification: Stephen Wetmore, Roundtable on Sustainable and Rob Boyd, IATA (confirmation pending), Moderated by Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck

9:45 AM              Future Pathway for Sustainable Fuel Certification                                               

10:00 AM           Business Jet Aviation and Fuel Logistics: Kai Sorenson, Epic Fuels, Keith Sawyer, AV Fuels and Charles Etter, Gulfstream

10:30 AM           Aircraft Manufacturer Perspective: Sheila Remes, Boeing

11:00 AM           Inside Project Deals/ Fuel Producer Perspective: Bryan Sherbacow, World Energy

11:30 AM           DOE Perspective for Opportunities of Sustainable Fuels: Zia Haq, U.S. Department of Energy

12:00 PM            Closing Keynote