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New University of Illinois studies show that modern switchgrass cultivars grown on marginal Midwestern land could profitably support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production while delivering major ecosystem benefits like reduced nitrate runoff and long-term carbon sequestration.
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Switchgrass requires significantly less fertilizer than corn, thrives on otherwise unproductive land, and could contribute up to 230 million dry tons annually toward SAF goals under the federal Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge.
- Utilizing switchgrass in sustainable aviation fuel can enhance U.S. energy security while putting underused land to work and reducing environmental impacts. Rather than relying on long-term subsidies, policies should focus on clearing regulatory hurdles and enabling private-sector investment to make these clean fuels competitive at scale.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
