By Steve Wilhelm, Puget Sound Business Journal
The FAA announced, September 13th, the creation of The Center of Excellence in Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment will be based at Washington State University in Richland, WA and will include the University of Washington among its 16 university partners. Other partners include PNNL, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Weyerhaeuser, the Port of Seattle, Spokane International Airport, Imperium Renewables and InnovaTek.
The announcement cites Washington as the perfect place for aviation biofuels research, due to the state’s aerospace strengths, environmental leadership, research capabilities and large agricultural industry capable of growing plants for biofuels.
The center is to receive $80 million in funding over the next decade, half from the FAA and half from industry partners.
“It’s a terrific win for Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest, and it further validates our region as the leader in the development of sustainable aviation biofurl” said Mike Bair, for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Read the original post here.