Delta Air Lines joined partners across Georgia to launch the Georgia SAF Coalition on Sept. 30, 2026, a statewide effort to build a sustainable aviation fuel industry from the state’s farms and forests.

The Georgia SAF Coalition was established by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and founding members Delta, the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Farm Bureau, according to Delta and the coalition’s news release. Its goal is to advance SAF research and production and to attract investment to Georgia.

The coalition’s immediate priorities are recruiting SAF and biofuel facilities to the state, connecting university research to industry needs, and building the supply chain that links Georgia’s forests and farms to aviation customers.

What the Georgia SAF Coalition Is

Founding members are Delta, Georgia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Forestry Association and the Metro Atlanta Chamber, according to the coalition’s release. Boeing, Cox Enterprises and Norfolk Southern are anchor partners, with additional support from supporting partners RYAM and Gulfstream Aerospace.

Research, education and community partners include the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia Southern University, the Technical College System of Georgia, the University of Georgia, Clean Cities Georgia, the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the Georgia Association of Manufacturers, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the National Federation of Independent Business.

The Georgia SAF Coalition says it will work to coordinate public-private partnerships, align university research with industry needs, and consider ways to attract investment. SAF can be made from a variety of feedstocks and is designed to work with existing aircraft and fueling infrastructure, according to the release.

The Georgia SAF Coalition Launch at the Delta Flight Museum

Elected officials, industry leaders and coalition partners gathered at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta for the launch, Delta said. Speakers included Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Metro Atlanta Chamber President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick and Delta President Peter Carter.

Carter said Georgia is well positioned to become a national leader in SAF and that the coalition unites organizations committed to that goal, according to the release. Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall said SAF could open new markets for the state’s agricultural commodities. Georgia Forestry Association President and CEO Tim Lowrimore said SAF gives Georgia’s working forests a growing market, with new demand for landowners and new jobs in rural Georgia.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said in the release that the Georgia SAF Coalition brings together producers and industry leaders to help unlock new markets for agriculture and forestry.

Why Georgia Is Betting on Farms and Forests

The launch builds on Georgia’s Keep Georgia Forested Act, which encourages investment in forestry manufacturing, including biofuels made from Georgia feedstocks. Gov. Brian Kemp signed it in May 2026, and it lets companies transfer certain tax credits so they can use them during early construction and operation, according to the release.

Before the launch, coalition members joined the Georgia Research Alliance in advocating for state funding for an Eminent Scholar whose research will focus on the forestry sector and emerging opportunities, including biofuels, the release said.

The effort comes as Georgia’s timber market has weakened. Atlanta News First reported that agriculture and forestry officials pitched SAF as a potential buyer for millions of tons of stranded wood after a collapsed timber market and billions of dollars in rural economic losses. The Georgia Forestry Association says Georgia has about 22 million acres of working forests.

What SAF Costs and What Delta Wants

Green jet fuel is two to three times as expensive as conventional jet fuel, and worldwide SAF production cannot meet global flight demand, Atlanta News First reported. The station said SAF can cut lifecycle flight emissions by up to 80%.

Delta has pledged to replace 10% of its conventional jet fuel with SAF by 2030, with a focus on supplies from Southeastern regional producers, according to Hoodline, citing Delta. Carter said Delta wants to fuel flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with sustainable blends, and Atlanta News First noted that coming European Union mandates will penalize international flights that do not use SAF blends.

FAQ: Georgia SAF Coalition

What is the Georgia SAF Coalition?

A statewide partnership launched on Sept. 30, 2026, to position Georgia as a leader in sustainable aviation fuel research and production using Georgia-grown agriculture and forestry feedstocks.

Who founded the Georgia SAF Coalition?

The Metro Atlanta Chamber, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Forestry Association.

What are the coalition’s priorities?

Recruiting SAF and biofuel facilities to Georgia, connecting university research to industry needs, and building supply chains from forests and farms to aviation customers.

Looking Ahead

The coalition has not announced a SAF plant, investment or supply deal in the reports reviewed. Watch for facility announcements, the Georgia Research Alliance’s Eminent Scholar appointment, any Delta fuel-purchase agreements with Georgia producers, and the effect of coming European mandates on demand. The Georgia SAF Coalition says it will keep recruiting members through its website.

Sources

Nabeel Khan

Written by

Nabeel Khan

Nabeel Khan is the founder and editor of The Aviation Diary. An aerospace industry professional and lifelong aviation enthusiast, he covers military aviation, commercial aviation, aerospace, defense, and space. He built an aviation following across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads before launching The Aviation Diary to bring that same coverage to a dedicated news site. Views expressed are his own.

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