United becomes first US airline to invest in biofuel refinery
United Airlines Ventures (UAV) has announced an investment in Next Renewable Fuels (Next), which is launching a biofuel refinery in Oregon expected to start production in 2026.
Next, a Houston-based company,…
United Airlines Ventures (UAV) has announced an investment in Next Renewable Fuels (Next), which is launching a biofuel refinery in Oregon expected to start production in 2026.
Next, a Houston-based company, hopes the biorefinery could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels.
UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into Next under the agreement.
Blueprint for future facilities
“Right now, one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply and lowering costs of sustainable fuel is that we don’t have the infrastructure in place to transport it efficiently, but Next’s strategic location and assets solve that problem and provide a blueprint for future facilities that need to be built,” said Michael Leskinen, president of United Airline Ventures.
“We believe this investment will not only bolster Next’s ambitions and create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demonstrates our commitment toward producing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonise the aviation industry.”
Leading SAF supplier on US West Coast
“The clean fuels industry is taking off and our access to feedstocks, multi-modal distribution, and major industry players positions us to be a leading SAF supplier on the West Coast,” said Christopher Efird, CEO and chairperson of Next.
“United’s investment in Next strengthens our resolve to be one of the clean fuels leaders in the transportation sector.”
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