The first thing I do when I see a headline that reads like a press release crafted by a corporation is to search for a quote or analysis by an independent expert. I must therefore sadly report that the Tribune article, “Delta embraces “sustainable aviation fuel” in its net-zero pursuit,” contained no disinterested opinion or analysis.
One cannot count Delta’s press release, the statement by a DG Fuels representative (a vendor for Delta), or a statement from United Airlines’ chief sustainability officer. Remarks about air quality are not directly relevant.
The executive summary of the 2020 report from the Department of Energy titled, “Sustainable Aviation Fuel,” offers that meeting the 2050 goal (50% reduction in carbon emissions from aviation fuel) will require fuels with a lower carbon footprint (on a life-cycle basis). It points to the scale of the problem (billions of gallons annually), such that it could consume virtually all available biomass in the country, the high cost, and the numerous extremely challenging technological barriers based upon fundamental principles of chemistry.
Nothing in this article reflected a major change in these fundamentals. To cut emissions efficiently and in a timely manner, carbon pricing with a cashback feature and a border adjustment mechanism must be top priority.
Gary Stewart, Laguna Beach, Calif.