Minnesota

Sustainable Airline Fuel production inching closer to reality in Minnesota

Published

4 months ago

September 10, 2024

Sustainable Airline Fuel production inching closer to reality in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — A breakthrough in the fight against climate change is happening in Minnesota.

Last year, Xcel Energy Executive Vice President Brett Carter told WCCO that transportation is the “largest carbon-emitting industry in the country.”

Carter — along with leaders from the airline, science and banking industries — made a goal of operating the first large-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) chain in the United States.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was picked as a SAF Hub due to Minnesota’s “combination of air demand, existing biofuels infrastructure, a strong agricultural economy and strong research assets,” according to Greater MSP CEO Peter Frosch.

SAF is a safe and certified alternative jet fuel that can reduce lifestyle carbon emissions by 80%.

According to Virgin Atlantic, SAF is made from a combination of used cooking oil, non-food crops, solid waste and industrial waste gases. No retrofitting is needed for the fuel to be used in airplanes, and it can travel through existing pipelines.

When the Minnesota SAF Hub was created, partners made a goal for commercial aviation to reach net zero by 2050. Delta Airlines said last year it wanted 10% of its fuel at MSP Airport to be SAF by 2027, and half by 2035.

That’s a feat that doesn’t happen overnight, but leaders on Tuesday were eager to announce several milestones toward making that dream a reality.

One of the highlights includes plans to develop the state’s first SAF blending facility at a refinery in Rosemount that will blend up to 30 million gallons.

Another milestone is the establishment of SAF production with a grant that will convert an existing ethanol fuel facilty to an integrated alcohol-to-jet-fuel facility in Luverne.

The hub is also working to make SAF cost-competitive with pledges from prominent companies like Delta and Bank of America to purchase it. And leaders are working with the University of Minnesota to eventually make it out of next-generation feedstocks.

“Together I think that we’re creating a one-of-a-kind model here in Minnesota. A lot of people around the world are talking about SAF, not too many are doing it,” said Christophe Beck, Ecolab’s chairman and CEO. “Once again, here in Minnesota, we’re making it happen and we’re changing the world for the better.”

With the industry just starting out, there isn’t enough SAF being produced right now to fuel the world’s airline for a single week.

Beret Leone

Beret Leone is a native Minnesotan who joined the WCCO team as a reporter in September 2022 – and she’s thrilled be back home in the Twin Cities! Beret grew up in Chaska and graduated from Bethel University.

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Minnesota

Are winters in Minnesota getting colder?

Published

6 hours ago

January 22, 2025

Press Room

Are winters in Minnesota getting colder? – CBS Minnesota

Watch CBS News

We are slowly climbing out of the frigid cold of this arctic outbreak. The cold served as a stinging reminder of what the bold north is capable of this time of year. But is it as cold as it used to be? Good Question. Jeff Wagner tallied how often we dip below zero.

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Minnesota

Over $600K worth of illicit cannabis found in Minnesota marijuana stores in 2024

Published

14 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Over 0K worth of illicit cannabis found in Minnesota marijuana stores in 2024

As the delayed process to license legal cannabis dispensaries continues, Minnesota is trying to keep a lid on its growing illegal cannabis market.

According to a 2025 report by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the agency found more than 199 lbs of illicit cannabis flower at 134 sites from January to October of 2024. That’s around $607,000 worth of flower voluntarily destroyed by businesses upon inspection.

Four business entities were fined $10,000 each in civil penalties.

“Additional challenges encountered by the office related to the illicit cannabis market include: the practice of businesses ‘gifting’ cannabis along with other purchases, online cannabis sales and mobile cannabis delivery services, peddler stands selling product at family friendly events like the Minnesota State Fair, and other large public cannabis events,” the report read.

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A chart from a January 2025 report by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management shows June 2024 had the largest amount of cannabis destroyed upon inspection.

Courtesy of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

Minnesota legalized recreational use of marijuana in August 2023 but has struggled to get business licensing on track. Last November, a Ramsey County judge halted the state’s pre-approved licensing lottery after a group of applicants who were denied access sued Minnesota’s cannabis office.

The state agency still does not have a permanent director. Earlier this month interim head Charlene Briner left the role and was replaced by Eric Taubel, who had served as general counsel at the cannabis department for the past year.

The sale of recreational cannabis is not yet legal. That means “the illicit cannabis market continues to play a role in cannabis consumption in Minnesota,” according to the OCM.

The only option for recreational use now is home-grown marijuana.

“Given the illicit nature of illegal sales of cannabis, the size of such a market is not able to be determined with complete accuracy or consistency,” said the state agency in the 2025 report.

Last week, the window for verification of social equity applicants was opened and has a deadline for Jan. 30. A revamped timeline now puts the general licensing lottery between May and June, tentatively.

According to a survey by the OCM on cannabis use, 40 percent of Minnesotans consumed cannabis daily or almost daily. Participants also reported obtaining an average of 24 grams of cannabis within the past month, which is slightly higher than the national average and comparable Midwest states — “suggesting a robust market for cannabis-related businesses.”

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Minnesota

Minnesota weather: A cold day Tuesday with evening light snowflakes

Published

22 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota weather: A cold day Tuesday with evening light snowflakes

Extreme Cold Warning

until TUE 12:00 PM CST, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Nobles County, Rock County, Cottonwood County, Murray County, Lyon County, Pipestone County, Big Stone County, Traverse County, West Marshall County, Lake Of The Woods County, Clay County, West Becker County, East Polk County, Mahnomen County, East Marshall County, Wilkin County, Kittson County, Norman County, Hubbard County, North Beltrami County, Red Lake County, Wadena County, East Otter Tail County, North Clearwater County, Pennington County, East Becker County, Grant County, West Otter Tail County, West Polk County, South Clearwater County, South Beltrami County, Roseau County, Carlton/South St. Louis Counties, North Itasca County, South Itasca County, Crow Wing County, Southern Cook/North Shore County, North St. Louis County, South Aitkin County, South Cass County, Northern Aitkin County, Northern Cook/Northern Lake Counties, Pine County, Southern Lake/North Shore, North Cass County, Central St. Louis County, Koochiching County, Wabasha County, Houston County, Olmsted County, Winona County, Mower County, Fillmore County, Dodge County, Washburn County, Burnett County, Douglas County, Buffalo County

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