In this day and age of online hyperventilating, it’s always — well, let’s say mostly — refreshing to dip into the CleanTechnica comments for news, insights, and alternative perspectives from our readers. A recent story about biofuel is a case in point. On January 10 CleanTechnica posted a press release from the Energy Department, detailing a $1.67 billion loan guarantee to the firm Montana Renewables, aimed at increasing domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel. Except, the press release left out one key detail…

What Is The Feedstock For This So-Called Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

As of the morning of January 11, two of our readers wanted to know what feedstocks are going into the company’s formula for sustainable aviation fuel. I read the press release, and I had the same question, too.

“The loan guarantee will help finance the expansion of a renewable fuels facility in Great Falls, Montana to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha,” the press release reads.

And, that’s just about all they had to say about that. “This project will utilize vegetable oils, fats, and greases to produce sustainable fuels,” the Energy Department added. That’s not a particularly helpful level of detail given the considerable controversy surrounding the use of land to grow energy crops.