A house RESOLUTION

 

To encourage taking all practical steps to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the State OF SOUTH CAROLINA To Ensure that the State is competitive in the industry.

 

Whereas, for decades the commercial aviation industry, made up of airlines, airports, and makers of aircraft and engines, has sought operational and fuel efficiencies including building more aerodynamic and lighter aircraft, optimizing flight planning, and using advanced technologies; and

 

Whereas, in 2021, the commercial aviation industry committed to transitioning from conventional kerosene jet fuel to sustainable aviation fuel with the goal to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2050; and

 

Whereas, sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks such as forest residuals, corn, oilseeds, sugarcane, agricultural residues, used cooking oil, municipal waste, and others; and

 

Whereas, commercial flights are currently permitted to fly with a blend of SAF and conventional fossil-based kerosene at levels up to fifty percent with a goal toward one hundred percent SAF in the future; and

 

Whereas, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization, over three hundred sixty thousand commercial flights have used SAF at forty-six different airports largely concentrated in the United States and Europe; and

 

Whereas, according to the International Air Transport Association, in 2022, global SAF production is estimated to have been between approximately eighty million to one hundred twenty million gallons, covering only around 0.1 percent to 0.15 percent of total jet fuel demand; and

 

Whereas, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the United States aviation industry has increased consumption of sustainable aviation fuel by two hundred forty-three percent over the past two years; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina has six commercial use airports and is situated between two of the largest and busiest airports in the United States; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina's largest economic sector is agribusiness which includes both agriculture and forestry industries; and

 

Whereas, other states are competing for the significant economic development opportunities created by sustainable aviation fuel. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, encourage taking all practical steps to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the State of South Carolina to ensure that the State is competitive in the industry.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to all applicable agency heads.

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