United Airlines Chief Urges Federal Support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Similar to Solar Incentives
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is calling for U.S. government funding to boost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), drawing parallels to how solar energy was subsidized. He sees potential in using corn and soy currently grown for biodiesel, but criticized Europe's regulatory approach. Kirby also shared his early awareness of climate change from his Air Force Academy days, linking it to current water challenges in the Colorado River basin.
Kirby recalled reading 1980s Air Force Academy forecasts predicting reduced snowpack and a drying Colorado River. Current data shows the Western Slope and adjacent Utah counties have warmed over 2°C, with river flow slowed by evaporation, less rainfall, and diminished snowpack.
For SAF, Kirby points to existing corn and soy crops used for biodiesel as a feedstock source, while criticizing European blend mandates. He advocates for U.S. subsidies akin to solar incentives to overcome persistent supply chain hurdles.
Federal SAF funding could lower production costs and accelerate adoption, potentially reducing aviation's carbon footprint. This may benefit airlines and passengers through more stable fuel prices, but could also shift agricultural demand toward corn and soy, impacting food markets and land use. Meanwhile, the Colorado River's strain highlights the broader climate risks that aviation's transition aims to mitigate, affecting communities reliant on water resources.