WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus, today presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for Southwest Airlines’ new SAFFiRE facility in Liberal, Kansas.
“This plant’s cutting-edge technology will convert the corn stalks and husks left after harvest into ethanol, which will be processed into aircraft fuel,” said Senator Moran. “With this new energy facility, Liberal will play a key role in developing sustainable aviation fuel that is cleaner, creating a new market for farmers and moving the United States closer to energy independence. In addition, China’s recent decision to reduce sorghum imports makes projects like this one to support our producers even more important.”
The new SAFFiRE plant will use corn stalks – the stems, leaves and cobs left over after the corn harvest – to produce renewable ethanol that will be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Senator Moran was joined today by Tom Nealon, CEO of SAFFiRE; Tom Willis, CEO of Conestoga; Debra Sanning, FAA Deputy Regional Director; Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy; Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Senator Roger Marshall, MD (R-Kan.).
Earlier this year, Senator Moran introduced the Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate the production and development of SAF under existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.
