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Washington Governor Bob Ferguson launched the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator at Paine Field, aiming to establish Snohomish County as a global hub for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The center will receive $10 million from the state Legislature and $10 million from an anonymous donor.

It will be built on an 8-acre site and operated in partnership with Snohomish County and Washington State University. Senator Marko Liias noted that SAF currently represents less than 1% of airline fuel use, and substantial funding, estimated at an additional $40 million, will be needed for its permanent establishment.

A temporary facility is set to open in the coming months. The International Air Transport Association reported SAF accounted for only 0.3% of global jet fuel production, with airlines pledging to transition to 100% sustainable fuel by 2050. The center aims to foster research and development to overcome challenges in SAF adoption.