Following the Senator’s efforts to secure the funding, the Department of Energy announced the $80 million grant to Thomaston, GA-based AVAPCO
In 2021, Senator Reverend Warnock passed the Aviation Emissions Reduction Opportunity (AERO) Act to establish a new grant program to support the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and other low-emission aviation technology, securing $297 million in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Also in 2021, the Senator introduced the Sustainable Skies Act to fight carbon emissions and promote the transition to sustainable aviation fuel.
Senator Reverend Warnock has secured nearly $400 million to support the research, production, and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding bill
The aviation industry represents 11% of U.S. transportation-related emissions
Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m proud to have led the way in prioritizing federal investments on this front, starting during my first days in the Senate”
In September 2022, Senator Reverend Warnock wrote a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in support of the project
Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) celebrated an $80 million federal grant to Thomaston-based AVAPCO to produce sustainable jet fuel from woodchips. The Department of Energy announced the grant following two years of leadership from Senator Warnock to prioritize investments in sustainable aviation fuel. Senator Warnock also wrote a letter of support for the project, urging the Department to route the federal investments to Georgia.
“Georgia is home to the busiest airport in the world and has a robust aviation industry,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “So, it’s only fitting that Georgia would lead the country in the development and manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel. I’m proud to have led the way in prioritizing federal investments on this front, starting during my first days in the Senate. I’m additionally pleased to see these responsible federal investments coming to Middle Georgia, supporting jobs and our state’s economy.”
“AVAPCO is grateful for Senator Warnock’s support and advocacy for our AVAP Biorefinery: Enabling Net Zero™ project and for his proactive leadership over several years in securing government investment in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)”, said Dr. Kim Nelson, Chief Technology Officer of AVAPCO.
“We applaud Senator Warnock’s vision to put Georgia at the center of SAF production, given the State’s unique forestry and aviation industry assets. We look forward to realize large-scale implementation of our pioneering technology, born and raised in Georgia”, said Bernardo Gradin, Founder and CEO of AVAPCO’s parent company GranBio.
Senator Warnock has been a strong champion for sustainable aviation fuels in the Senate, as well as other efforts to address climate change and strengthen the economy by cultivating economic opportunities in clean energy sectors. In 2021, Senator Reverend Warnock introduced the Aviation Emissions Reduction Opportunity (AERO) Act to establish a new grant program to support the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel and other low-emission aviation technology. Also in 2021, the Senator introduced the Sustainable Skies Act to fight carbon emissions and promote the transition to sustainable aviation fuel in the U.S. In 2022, Senator Reverend Warnock secured $14 million in the Inflation Reduction Act focused on clean energy in rural communities, including investing in the infrastructure needed for sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuels. In the Fiscal Year 2023 government package, the Senator secured $92 million in programmatic funding to benefit the Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment. Additionally, Senator Warnock partnered with Senator Jon Ossoff to successfully secure $2.5 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to create a new Georgia Tech-led research consortium, in coordination with Georgia’s HBCUs, to study and develop new hydrogen fuel technologies for a clean energy future.
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