Green Skies Ahead: SAF Giants Ink 70M Gallon Deal to Meet Corporate Climate Goals

GREAT FALLS, Mont. and BOSTON – February 19, 2026 – In a significant move to bolster the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market, Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) and World Energy Clean Fuels LLC have announced a landmark three-year agreement. The deal will inject over 70 million gallons of SAF into the supply chain, an amount projected to mitigate up to 600,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

This collaboration unites one of North America's largest SAF producers with a global pioneer in clean energy solutions, signaling a powerful response to the rapidly growing demand for aviation decarbonization. The partnership between MRL, an unrestricted subsidiary of Calumet, Inc., and Boston-based World Energy is set to accelerate the availability of both the low-carbon fuel and its associated environmental credits at a pivotal moment for the industry.

As corporations and airlines face mounting pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, this agreement highlights a critical trend: the scaling of clean fuel production driven directly by corporate climate commitments. The aviation sector, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, sees SAF as its most crucial tool, with the potential to contribute around 65% of the necessary emissions reductions.

Corporate Climate Pledges Fuel SAF Market

The engine driving this deal is the surging demand from global corporations striving to meet ambitious sustainability targets. World Energy, the world's first commercial-scale SAF producer, has established itself as a leader in the carbon insets market. This innovative model allows companies to purchase the environmental attributes of SAF to neutralize their own aviation-related emissions, even if the physical fuel isn't used on their specific flights.

This "Book & Claim" system effectively decouples the environmental benefit from the physical fuel molecule. It enables companies across sectors like technology, finance, and pharmaceuticals to invest in decarbonizing aviation and address their hard-to-abate Scope 3 emissions—indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain. The partnership with MRL provides World Energy with a substantial and reliable supply of SAF to back these environmental attribute sales, meeting the needs of its growing client base.

"We are serving many of the most recognized and respected brands in the world... to meet their decarbonization commitments," said World Energy CEO, Gene Gebolys. "This important collaboration with MRL is a big step forward for both of our businesses but, more importantly, working together will allow us to serve corporate leaders better than either of us could do on our own."

Montana's Economy Gets a Green Boost

While the deal has global implications for decarbonization, its impact begins on the ground in Great Falls, Montana. Montana Renewables is in the midst of a transformative expansion project, dubbed MaxSAF™ 150, which is set to dramatically increase its production capacity. The project is backed by a substantial $1.67 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, underscoring the federal government's commitment to building a domestic SAF industry.

This expansion is projected to create 450 peak construction jobs and add up to 40 new, high-paying permanent operational roles. According to an economic impact study by the University of Montana, the facility's growing footprint is expected to support a local population of over 4,400 Montanans by 2028, bolstering the regional economy.

The benefits extend directly to the region's agricultural community. MRL utilizes a diverse range of renewable feedstocks sourced from the Pacific Northwest, including agricultural byproducts like tallow, distillers corn oil, canola oil, and camelina oil. This creates a stable, value-added market for local farmers and ranchers.

"MRL's MaxSAF expansion project is progressing rapidly and is on track to deliver economic benefits to the region's farmers, ranchers, and energy-related economy this spring," stated Bruce Fleming, CEO of Montana Renewables. "Market demand for SAF remains strong, and this agreement is another signal of our commitment to American energy independence and Montana agriculture."

Navigating the High Cost of Cleaner Skies

Despite the clear environmental benefits and growing demand, the SAF industry faces a significant economic hurdle: cost. Currently, SAF is two to seven times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, a premium attributed to complex production processes, limited feedstock availability, and a lack of production at scale. This price gap makes government support essential for the industry's viability.

The U.S. has responded with robust policy incentives, most notably through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The act's 40B tax credit provided a crucial incentive of up to $1.75 per gallon for SAF that demonstrated significant lifecycle greenhouse gas reductions. This will be succeeded in 2025 by the Clean Fuel Production Credit, or 45Z, which is expected to continue providing vital support for producers like MRL. These policies, combined with the Biden Administration's SAF Grand Challenge to produce 3 billion gallons annually by 2030, are foundational to the industry's growth.

This 70-million-gallon deal, while substantial, represents just a fraction of that 2030 goal, illustrating the immense scaling still required. The partnership between a producer like MRL and a market-maker like World Energy is a model for how the industry can de-risk major capital investments and build the necessary infrastructure to close the gap between today's production and tomorrow's climate targets.

Scaling Production in a High-Stakes Market

The global SAF market is projected to grow explosively, with some forecasts predicting a compound annual growth rate of over 50% and a market value exceeding $25 billion by 2030. North America is poised to lead this charge, and upon completion of its expansion, MRL is expected to be one of the largest SAF producers in the world, solidifying Montana's role as a hub for renewable energy.

However, the path forward is not without challenges. Industry bodies have noted that the pace of growth could be hampered without consistent and clear policy support, highlighting recent uncertainty around the final regulations for the 45Z tax credit. The success of the aviation industry's ambitious 2050 net-zero goal hinges on the ability of partnerships like the one between Montana Renewables and World Energy to navigate these complexities, secure long-term offtake agreements, and continue scaling production to make sustainable flight a widespread reality.