This is a critical step as we move towards a sustainable future, as SAF is transported using existing infrastructure.
Delta, Neste, Colonial Pipeline, and Buckeye Partners have come together to safely deliver SAF to New York’s LaGuardia Airport using existing petroleum pipelines. Recently SAF was safely delivered using Colonial and Buckeye pipeline systems – two essential pieces of American energy infrastructure to power Delta Air Lines flight. The milestone delivery and flight is supported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the first U.S. transportation agency to embrace the Paris Climate Agreement and a champion for accelerating the use of sustainable fuels.
Pamela Fletcher, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer said, “SAF is the most effective tool we have to decarbonize our industry. These efforts show how existing infrastructure can be used to transport SAF to East Coast airports and drive down emissions – a critical step as we move toward a more sustainable future for air travel.”
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “Increasing and accelerating the use of sustainable aviation fuel is a key strategic element if we are to decarbonize air travel, and the Port Authority is committed to supporting our airline partners in this transition. If we are to achieve a net-zero future, it is imperative that we collectively take action to enable a transition to sustainable aviation fuel.”
Neste completed the final processing steps of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at a Texas refinery that previously produced chemicals. The fuel was loaded into Colonial Pipeline and transported nearly 1,500 miles across 11 states to New Jersey before entering the Buckeye Pipeline and sent on to LaGuardia.
Chris Cooper, Neste’s Vice President of Renewable Aviation in Americas said, “The U.S. East Coast is home to some of the USA’s busiest airports, and the vast majority of them get their fuel from the Colonial Pipeline system and, in New York, the Buckeye Pipeline system. What we’re doing here is showing that just around the corner is a future where passengers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson up to LaGuardia, JFK and EWR can board a plane flying on SAF.”
Dan Gordon, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Colonial Pipeline said, “Colonial Pipeline is excited to not only meet our customers’ evolving needs for the transport of renewable fuels but to be one of the first to accept it onto a traditional pipeline network. Our pipeline is ideally situated to safely and efficiently deliver jet fuel from producers in the U.S. Gulf Coast directly to seven East Coast international airports, along with other large and mid-market airports. We see the transport of SAF and other renewable fuels as an opportunity to further diversify our offerings.”
Todd Russo, Buckeye’s CEO said, “Leveraging Buckeye’s existing infrastructure and capabilities to increase the accessibility of SAF available to our customers and end-users, stems from our commitment to supporting partners, like Neste and Delta Air Lines, who are at the forefront of the energy industry’s evolution. The impact of our collaborative efforts will ultimately play a key role in decarbonizing and improving the sustainability of the aviation industry.” SAF is a direct replacement for conventional jet fuel, subject to current blending limitations, and is made from renewable waste and residues, and other biomass. When used in neat form, SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent* over its life cycle when compared with conventional jet fuel. Once blended, SAF is chemically identical to fossil jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines.
