By Scout Nelson
Delta Air Lines made history with its first flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from camelina, a cover crop grown in Minnesota and North Dakota. The landmark flight departed from Minneapolis-St.
Paul International Airport (MSP) to New York, highlighting efforts to reduce emissions in the airline industry. Delta aims to make MSP the first airport where all its flights use SAF.
The Minnesota SAF Hub, a coalition led by Greater MSP, is working to decarbonize air travel, which contributes about 2% of global carbon emissions. Peter Frosch, president and CEO of Greater MSP, emphasized the importance of this achievement, stating, “We are highlighting the first SAF flight from MSP International as another major milestone in our push to build a SAF economy anchored in Minnesota.”
Farmers partnered with Cargill to grow 2,000 acres of camelina, a crop that does not displace food production as it grows alongside other crops. Camelina seeds are processed into oil, which is refined into SAF. Cargill processed the camelina oil in West Fargo, transported it to Montana for blending, and used it in Delta’s flight, where SAF made up 32% of the blended fuel.
Anne Schwagerl, vice president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, participated in the pilot program, producing camelina despite challenging conditions. “I think everyone of age has a role to play in this new climate-smart ecosystem that’s emerging,” Schwagerl said.
While SAF has its supporters, some experts, like University of Minnesota’s Jason Hill, argue that SAF’s environmental benefits are overstated, labeling it as “greenwashing.” However, advocates like Nicholas Jordan from the University’s Forever Green Initiative highlight camelina’s additional environmental benefits, including supporting wildlife and preventing soil erosion, suggesting its value goes beyond just carbon reduction.
Photo Credit:photo-credit-vista-mipan
Categories: Minnesota, Energy, General