EGEB: US airlines boost their 2030 target for sustainable aviation fuel by 50%
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- US airlines boost their 2030 SAF target from 2 billion to 3 billion gallons.
- Clean energy has a diversity problem, a new study confirms.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Sustainable aviation fuel
Major US airlines yesterday pledged to voluntarily make 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel available to US aircraft operators in order to reduce aviation emissions by 20% by 2030.
Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade group that includes United Airlines, Southwest, Delta, American, and others, announced a 2030 goal of producing and deploying 2 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel in March.
The group will work with the US government and other stakeholders to achieve today’s higher goal. The new target is a 50% boost.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is made from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and animal fat and is, at present, rarely used.
At a White House roundtable on sustainable aviation yesterday, A4A CEO Nicholas E. Calio highlighted the need for:
[P]ositive government policy support – including a $1.50-$2.00 per gallon SAF blender’s tax credit; public-private SAF research, development and deployment programs, such as a new SAF and low emissions technology grant program under consideration by Congress; and other collaborative initiatives – to help enable the US aviation industry to reach its ambitious new 2030 SAF goal and its 2050 net-zero emissions goal.
The White House Fact Sheet on sustainable fuels in American aviation pointed out yesterday:
Aviation (including all non-military flights within and departing from the United States) represents 11% of United States transportation-related emissions. Without increased action, aviation’s share of emissions is likely to increase as more people and goods fly. That is why leadership and innovation in this sector is so essential if we hope to put the aviation industry, and the economy, on track to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Ultimately, the White House is calling for sufficient SAF to meet 100% of aviation fuel demand by 2050, which is currently projected to be around 35 billion gallons per year.
Read more: Boeing says it will deliver 100% biofuel planes by 2030
Need for equity in clean energy
A new study, called “Help Wanted: Diversity in Clean Energy,” highlights the need for equity in clean energy:
Despite its broad range of businesses, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, professional services, and repair and maintenance, the clean energy sector is dominated by white men.
The study by BW Research Partnership was done in collaboration with E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), The Alliance to Save Energy, American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), Black Owners of Solar Services (BOSS), and Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA).
Here are the report’s key findings:
- Black workers represent about 8% of the clean energy labor force, compared with about 13% of the nation’s total workforce.
- Hispanic/Latino workers represent nearly 17% of the clean energy workforce, slightly less than the 18% they represent in the overall national workforce.
- Racial and ethnic minorities account for nearly 4 in 10 US clean energy workers.
- About 8% of clean energy workers are Asian, slightly higher than their presence in the national workforce, while Pacific Islanders and Alaska and other native Americans each make up about 1% of the clean energy workforce.
- Women hold about 27% of clean energy jobs, compared with 48% of all jobs nationally.
- Renewable energy employs the highest share of Hispanic or Latino workers in the US energy sector.
- Black, Asian, Indigenous, and multiracial workers account for about 27% of clean energy jobs.
Nicole Sitaraman, policy committee chair of BOSS and vice president of strategic engagement at Sustainable Capital Advisors, said in a statement emailed to Electrek:
We are living in a climate crisis in which Black communities are suffering disproportionately. Clean energy industries often overlook the innovation, expertise, and insight that Black communities possess. It is time to change that. We will not reach our climate mitigation and adaptation goals without the full participation and leadership of people of color in the clean energy sector. This report presents important data showing the urgency of diversifying this space to achieve an equitable climate resilient future.
Photo: “American Airlines MD-82 N455AA” by caribb is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
Read more from Sky News:
Snoop Dogg becomes a co-owner of Swansea FC
American Idol TV executive and husband shot dead
One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
Read more from Sky News:
Ticketless Oasis fans blocked from gig
American Idol executive shot dead
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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