Wisconsin enacts landmark legislation to further SAF production
- National Business Aviation Association
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Advocacy by the National Business Aviation Association, with support from the Wisconsin Business Aviation Association, recently culminated with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signing an innovative bill to further the development and production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the Badger State.
Assembly Bill 619 authorizes the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to create a manufacturing zone to support production of aviation biofuel derived from woody biomass, including trees and tree limbs, needles, leaves and forestry residues.
“The SAF producers tax credit will support job growth and energy security,” the two associations wrote last year in support of the measure. “General aviation alone contributes 26,700 jobs and $6.5 billion in total economic output to Wisconsin. The SAF credit will support additional jobs in agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, construction, transportation and research and development.”
The bill further allocates up to $120 million in tax credits for a company to produce SAF derived at least 80 percent from Wisconsin-sourced woody feedstocks over five years.
Lawmakers agreed, noting in the bill that, “The manufacturing of aviation biofuels in this state is essential to maintain and grow the forest products industry in this state and to create jobs.”
They further called support for growing the aviation biofuels industry “a statewide responsibility of statewide dimension.”
“On behalf of NBAA and our partners at WiBAA, we thank Gov. Evers and state legislators for taking this positive step toward greater sustainability of our nation’s aviation industry,” said NBAA Regional Director Kristi Ivey. “This bill helps make the U.S. a global leader in SAF production while also bringing new jobs to Wisconsin’s rural communities.”
Nancy Bsales, the co-chair of NBAA’s environmental committee, added, “We’re very pleased to see AB619 signed into law and the strong signal it sends for advancing sustainable aviation fuel in Wisconsin. It’s incredible to see Wisconsin support SAF growth in the state and our country, and this is a great example of state-level initiatives that will help scale SAF.”
The new law reflects a key theme underscored by the industry’s “Climbing Fast” advocacy campaign: Business aviation is an incubator for sustainability innovation, with a united goal to achieve net-zero emissions from aviation by 2050.
Equally important, the industry plays an essential role in creating jobs, driving economic activity, connecting communities and providing humanitarian lift for citizens and towns in times of crisis.
