Making Planes Run on Bio-Fuel

Sure, I’ll cut down on short-haul flights that could easily be replaced by a few hours on a train or bus. And sure, even for longer hauls I’ll go overland sometimes when I have the time and means. But, even setting aside my personal travel ambitions, I’ve got family spread out from Nova Scotia to the Yukon to Arizona. There’s no way I can quit my flight habit entirely.

Scientific American has the details on the project, as well as the other ongoing efforts at creating plant-based jet fuel. And as for the future of the project?

“The thing that needs to happen is a purchase order to come through from the Air Force so we can get [the] investment to build that first plant,” said the CEO of another company, hard at work on jet fuel made from algae scum.

“We could get a plant operational in two to five years if there were a commitment to buy the fuel.”