US aviation industry to keep biofuel support

US development of viable biofuel for the aviation industry has received further long-term support from the government this April.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack and Transportation secretary Ray LaHood signed a five-year agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, which was announced at the Advanced Biofuels Summit.

The federal government and its partners hope to oversee an annual production of 1 billion gallons of drop-in aviation biofuel by 2018.

‘In his state address, president Obama called on us to work together to reduce carbon emissions - developing these alternative jet fuels will do just that, while creating jobs and helping airlines save money on fuel,’ says LaHood.

The renewed agreement will continue to focus on goals between the Airlines for America, Boeing and USDA's Regional Biomass Research Centres which include evaluating current and potential feedstock types and systems, developing multiple feedstock supply chains, developing state and local public-private teams and issuing periodic reports.