Washington leaders launch Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator, position Pacific Northwest as global hub for SAF

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Washington state leaders, aviation industry partners, research institutions, Tribal representatives and sustainability advocates launched the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator Jan. 8.  

Announced at the Boeing Future of Flight, the initiative is the most comprehensive and well-funded across the region of its kind to accelerate the production, deployment and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Funded through a 2025 state of Washington appropriation and private philanthropic donation of an additional $10 million, the CSAA positions the Pacific Northwest as a global leader in an accelerated transition to SAF while capitalizing on the once-in-a-generation economic opportunity of scaling local SAF production.

In partnership with the state’s commerce department, CSAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the renewable fuels industry in the Pacific Northwest.

Unlike traditional jet fuel, SAF is formulated from sustainable feedstocks, like crop seed oil, agricultural and forestry waste.

Advancements in SAF technology and greater availability of affordable SAF will reduce the carbon footprint of air transportation, improve air quality and contribute to a more sustainable future while creating new industries, jobs and economic opportunities.

“Sustainable aviation fuel puts the Cascadia region at the forefront of the next major chapter of the clean-energy transition that will shape how the world is powered,” said Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson. “This is the opportunity to do for clean fuels what this region did for the technology economy, creating lasting economic growth and leading the global effort to cut aviation emissions.”

The Cascadia region has been a trailblazer in aerospace innovation for over a century, and today it is uniquely positioned as a global center of aviation innovation, with an opportunity to unlock the next generation of sustainable fuel.

With access to local, low-carbon feedstocks, affordable clean energy, established infrastructure and a skilled workforce, the region has all the elements necessary to support production of up to 1 billion gallons of SAF by 2035.

Scaling production at this level would drive economic prosperity and development, strengthen regional energy security and independence, support state and regional climate initiatives and build on Cascadia’s long legacy as an aviation innovator.

The global aviation industry, which generates some $4.1 trillion in economic activity and supports 86.5 million jobs, currently accounts for approximately 2 percent to 3 percent of global carbon-dioxide emissions, in addition to other environmental impacts.

SAF is a safe, effective drop-in solution projected to be used for the next 70-plus years that can reduce emissions by 80 percent compared to fossil-based fuels and the transition to a thriving circular economy through locally produced SAF.

“This initiative will be successful because it is grounded here, in the communities where aviation, manufacturing and clean energy intersect,” said Dave Somers, Snohomish County executive and chair of the CSAA board of directors. “CSAA builds on the infrastructure, workforce and partnerships we have already put in place, and this is just the beginning. Coalition partners like Washington State University are eager to partner in the establishment of a world class research and development facility adjacent to Paine Field. Combined with our region’s aviation industry cluster, these developments ensure we will be a leader in global aviation sustainability and investment well into the future.”

The region’s strength is built on advanced science, technology and aviation expertise, supported by leaders like Washington State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Boeing.

This research foundation provides the technical backbone needed to move SAF from small-scale production to commercial scale.

“For the last six decades in Snohomish County, Boeing has relied on strong community partnerships to turn ambitious ideas into reality,” said Bill McSherry, Boeing’s vice president of government operations. “Cascadia is a concrete example of that collaboration toward meaningful progress on a sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem right here at home.”

Local aviation and technology leaders recognize that scaling SAF research and production will require coordinated action across the entire aviation ecosystem.

Manufacturers like Boeing bring the technical expertise to integrate SAF into aircraft and operations, while operators including Alaska Airlines and Amazon provide the operational expertise and market demand for cost-competitive SAF.

Lawmakers, like Washington State Sen. Marko Liias, have championed these partnerships at the state level by advancing legislation that supports SAF development and unlocks long-term investment.

“Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are committed to this journey to reduce carbon emissions for a more sustainable future for aviation, and while we are proud to be the most fuel-efficient premium U.S. carrier, SAF remains the biggest lever for us to meaningfully lower our emissions and reach our decarbonization goal,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “We’re thrilled to be a founding partner of CSAA because regional, cross-sector efforts like this are critical to align policy, public and private investment, to identify and invest in the right technologies and to incent and scale local production.”

Combined with existing infrastructure, affordable clean energy and access to feedstocks, research institutions are advancing the science that makes SAF viable, and policymakers are ensuring sustainability and airport community impacts remain central as the industry transitions to cleaner fuels.

“Washington has led the world in aerospace innovation for generations, and now we face a defining moment for the next generation of aviation,” said State Sen. Liias. “Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to decarbonizing air transportation, and Cascadia is the one region with the research, industry, policy and workforce needed to scale it. This is the moment to act, and CSAA gives us the vehicle to lead.”

The Jan. 8 launch event featured remarks from leaders across the aviation, research and public sectors. 

Executives from Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Boeing spoke to the importance of aligning the full ecosystem of manufacturers and operators, policy, research, financing and public awareness to scale SAF and secure the long-term future of aviation. 

Rep. Mia Gregerson highlighted the need to center sustainability and airport communities as the industry transitions to cleaner fuels. 

Washington State University President Elizabeth Cantwell underscored the role of research and innovation in advancing SAF from the lab to commercial deployment, while Joe Nguyễn, director of the state commerce department, addressed Washington state’s investments in clean energy, economic development and partnerships with Tribal nations.