A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

A new <a href="https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files//Intermittent-production-PtL-jet-fuel-grid-DSM-19NOV24.pdf">paper released by the Environmental Defense Fund</a> (EDF) shows the potential of second-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from CO2, water, and renewable electricity (e-fuels), describing it as “a huge economic and climate opportunity for the U.S.”
SAF is considered one of the best near-term options for aviation to meet its emission reduction goals, but how and from what it is made weighs heavily on its benefits over conventional jet fuel.
The key, the EDF study noted, is in the electricity. When it is sourced from excess renewable energy and the carbon component comes from waste CO2 from other industrial processes, manufacturers can produce clean, affordable SAF. It estimates that when e-fuels are produced in a supply-driven electricity market, costs could be halved compared to mainstream estimates. The paper’s authors believe there will be enough surplus renewable electricity in the U.S. to meet most, if not all, jet fuel demand with e-fuels in the 2050 timeframe.
With hundreds of plants producing ethanol in the Midwest, their waste CO2 combined with the region’s abundant renewable energy could account for the bulk of the 3 billion gallons of SAF a year by 2030 as requested in the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-09-10/white-house-rolls-out-initiatives-boost-saf">SAF Grand Challenge</a> issued by the Biden Administration, the report stated.
“By marrying CO2 from local ethanol plants with surplus renewable electricity, the U.S. has the potential to produce some of the cheapest, most sustainable aviation fuels on the market, while growing the country’s economy, meeting climate goals, and accelerating the energy transition,” said&nbsp;Pedro Piris-Cabezas, EDF’s senior director for global transportation and one of the study's authors. “State and federal policymakers have a critical role to play in supporting the growth of this exciting new industry.”&nbsp;
The report comes as the U.S. Treasury Department is expected to issue <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-02/bizav-groups-urge-flexibility-rules-guiding-saf">guidance</a> on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, a tax incentive for the domestic production of clean transportation fuels, which could provide up to a $1.75 credit per gallon of fuel based on its carbon intensity.
“Federal policymakers should give e-fuels a chance to compete on a level playing field with other alternative fuels by protecting the safeguards written in the IRA that ensure only high-integrity sustainable aviation fuels receive generous taxpayer subsidies,” Piris-Cabezas concluded. “By nurturing a Midwest e-fuels industry, the U.S. can attract global demand for a made-in-America product and secure its position as an international leader in sustainable aviation.”

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

New Report from the Environmental Defense Fund Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

The report sees the Midwest as a future hotbed of SAF production

A new paper from the Environmental Defense Fund shows the potential of second-gen sustainable aviation fuel to meet the needs of the U.S. aviation industry.

Environmental Group Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are committed to new R&D efforts in the Netherlands

RTX Launches Sustainability Alliance With Dutch Aerospace Sector

Total funding for the third phase of work could top €950 million

EU's Clean Aviation Set to Invite Proposals for Decarbonization R&D Work

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Naples Aviation is the first of many to begin offering SAF in the coming months

Florida FBO Becomes First on East Coast To Offer SAF

The large-scale plant is expected to come online in 2026

Pakistan's First SAF Plant Gets Funding Boost

The multi-billion-dollar facility is expected to be running by 2029

New Major SAF Plant Planned for Texas

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The move could bolster the Kingdom's circular economy and sustainability

TotalEnergies, Aramco Sign SAF Development Agreement

Kerry Lynch

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Environmental regulatory schemes are growing exponentially worldwide

4Air Compliance Services Expand with 21 More Enviro Regs

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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