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Trump executive order vows substantial cuts to federal workforce; KY counties make decisions on how to spend opioid settlement payments; Programs in rural NC, other states provides cost-efficient energy upgrades; Grant helps tribes, nonprofits plan to expand range of sea otters.

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A court weighs the right of New York City noncitizens to vote in local elections, Vice President Vance suggests courts can't overrule a president, and states increasingly challenge the validity of student IDs at the ballot box.

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Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

Georgia's timber industry eyes sustainable aviation fuel to secure its future

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Monday, January 27, 2025   

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said LanzaJet was already producing sustainable aviation fuel. It has plans to do so at this point. (8:30 AM MST, January 27, 2024)


Georgia is the nation's top forestry state, grappling with overproduction and the aftermath of severe storms which damaged timber supplies.

Industry leaders and policymakers are turning to sustainable aviation fuel to boost the industry, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

Sen. Larry Walker, R-Perry, is on the Senate's committee for forestry innovation. He said the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel from companies like Delta Air Lines highlights its potential. However, he emphasized expanding production requires strategic federal policies and research to ensure long-term growth.

"To invest in a facility that manufactures SAF, it's a huge investment. It's a long-term proposition," Walker stressed. "We need some certainty out of Washington what the public policy is going to be, what the incentives to create this industry are."

He explained a robust industry could have been an alternative use for storm-damaged timber from Hurricane Helene, potentially lessening the economic blow to rural communities. Walker added state lawmakers plan to introduce bills during the 2025 legislative session to support forestry innovation and expand sustainable aviation fuel production in the state.

Jimmy Samartzis is the CEO of LanzaJet, a company in Soperton, Georgia that plans to produce sustainable aviation fuel. He says SAF is cleaner and more efficient than traditional jet fuel, and it's made from existing carbon sources above ground. He thinks it could revitalize Georgia's timber industry and rural communities.

Samartzis says LanzaJet's facility has created at least 30 well-paying jobs, and can use forestry byproducts to produce ethanol for SAF, and potentially boost the local economy. He emphasizes further investment is crucial to addressing the challenges in building this industry from the ground up.

"We are finding, not just in the United States but abroad as well, government plays a really important role in trying to get a new industry off the ground, including the SAF industry," Samartzis noted. "To help offset some of the higher costs that exist with building these first plants and producing the first products."

He added while federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and the 45-Z clean fuel tax credit aimed to support sustainable aviation fuel, their implementation has created challenges for alcohol-to-jet technologies. Despite this, he sees rising global demand as an opportunity for Georgia to lead in clean energy innovation and expand its economic impact.


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