State Looks To Jet Fuel To Reduce Emissions

In light of its lofty greenhouse gas reduction goals, California is now turning to jet fuels as another area where it can curb emissions.

California's Air Resources Board is looking at how to encourage production of cleaner jet fuels under the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. The board is considering giving credits to alternative jet fuel producers.

Glenn Johnston is with Gevo Incorporated, a biofuel company based in Colorado.

"Right now, its an un-level playing field economically," Johnston says. "Producers in the state of California are more likely to put their fuel on-road than to put it into a plane. And so what they're trying to do is level that playing field and be able to position themselves for the huge growth that's going to happen."

Johnston says that growth in alternative jet fuels is inevitable.

A UN agreement established last year requires jet fuel emissions to be capped by 2020. At the same time, Johnston says the aviation industry is expected to double between 2020 and 2030.

A new law requires California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.