Plans to produce sustainable aviation fuel at Wallula Gap get $1.5M boost

SkyNRG wants to produce sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, at the Port of Walla Walla’s industrial park. And now, a $1.5 million grant could help make it happen. 

The state Department of Commerce gave the grant to the port. The money will fund work that includes cultural and geotechnical surveys on a 165-acre parcel there. 

“ You always hear the term win-win, but in my thinking, this is a win-win-win-win,” said Kip Kelly, a Port Commissioner. 

For one thing, Kelly said the new facility will be a win for the climate. 

Compared to traditional jet fuel, SAF can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 94%, according to the Department of Energy. The agency calls SAF “the only viable solution to meaningfully decarbonize our aviation sector in the near-term.”

SAF is a “drop-in” fuel, which means it works with today’s planes. It can be made from a variety of biological sources, including cooking oil and agricultural waste. At the Wallula Gap location, SkyNRG said it will use “biogenic methane” — which is methane produced by plants and animals, and which can be captured from landfills or livestock. 

Kelly said SkyNRG’s plans will also benefit the local economy by generating tax revenue and creating well-paying jobs. The company said it’ll employ up to 600 people during the three-year construction period, and around 100 people once it opens.

SkyNRG estimates it will produce 50 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel each year. 

Demand for SAF is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades. The Department of Energy is hoping to power U.S. planes with 100% SAF by 2050 — a projected need of 35 billion gallons annually. (Right now, SAF must be mixed with conventional jet fuel, though the agency says that “chemical and mechanical engineers are working to safely and legally produce 100% SAF blends.”)

On a state level, the Port of Seattle has said it wants SAF to comprise at least 10% of the fuel on all Sea-Tac flights by 2028, for a total of 60 million gallons a year. It wants that fuel to come from local sources.

“This facility positions Walla Walla as a leader in sustainable aviation fuel while creating quality jobs and long-term economic benefits,” Patrick Reay, the Port’s executive director, said in a statement. “SkyNRG’s presence underscores our commitment to innovation and attracting forward-thinking industries.”

SkyNRG hopes its facility will come online in 2029. In an email, the Department of Commerce said it could become the largest producer of SAF in the state.