This article is based on official press releases from Alaska Airlines and Washington State University, as well as public announcements from the launch event.

Washington Leaders Launch Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator to Power PNW SAF Hub

On January 8, 2026, a coalition of government, industry, and academic leaders officially launched the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator (CSAA). Unveiled at the Boeing Future of Flight in Mukilteo, Washington, the initiative aims to establish the Pacific Northwest as a global leader in the production and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

According to official announcements, the accelerator is backed by $20 million in initial funding. This capital includes $10 million from Washington State’s Climate Commitment Act funds and a matching $10 million contribution from an anonymous philanthropic donor. The coalition has set an ambitious target: to scale regional SAF production to 1 billion gallons annually by 2035.

A Public-Private Coalition

The initiative represents a broad partnership designed to bridge the gap between policy, technology, and commercial viability. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson championed the launch, positioning it as both an economic engine and a critical climate solution for the state.

The coalition features major stakeholders across multiple sectors:

• Aviation: Founding partners Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have committed to using SAF to meet net-zero goals. Boeing, which hosted the launch, is providing technical expertise regarding aircraft compatibility.
• Academia: Washington State University (WSU) will lead the research and development component of the initiative.
• Corporate Demand: Major corporate consumers of air cargo and travel, including Amazon and Microsoft, are involved to help aggregate demand.
• Government: In addition to the Governor’s office, the Port of Seattle and Snohomish County are key partners, with Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers serving as the CSAA Board Chair.

“We have all the pieces in place to ensure this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity is realized, and this accelerator will make that happen.”

, Governor Bob Ferguson, via official press release

Strategic Structure: Accelerator and Institute

To address the complex barriers facing the SAF market, the initiative is divided into two complementary arms: the Accelerator and the Institute.

The Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator (CSAA)

The CSAA focuses on market acceleration, financing, and policy advocacy. Its primary mission is to “de-risk” the industry for producers and investors. By harmonizing tax incentives and aggregating fuel demand from airlines and corporate partners, the Accelerator aims to create a stable market environment that encourages rapid scaling of production facilities.

The Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Institute (CSAI)

The Institute will handle the technical and scientific challenges of SAF adoption. It will operate a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Research and Development Center based at Paine Field in Snohomish County. While a permanent facility is scheduled for completion by 2029, the center will open in a temporary commercial space in the coming months.

A key feature of the Institute will be the world’s first “SAF Repository.” This facility will function similarly to a seed bank, collecting, indexing, and distributing fuel samples to researchers globally to standardize testing and certification processes.

“For aviation to remain strong and resilient in the decades ahead, sustainability must be part of its future.”

, Elizabeth Cantwell, WSU President, via WSU News

Industry Context and Regional Projects

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is widely considered the most viable near-term solution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation. Made from feedstocks such as agricultural waste, used cooking oil, or captured carbon, SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. However, current supply accounts for less than 1% of global jet fuel usage, and it remains significantly more expensive than fossil-based alternatives.

The Pacific Northwest is viewed as an ideal “test bed” for solving these problems due to its access to renewable hydroelectric power, forestry and agricultural residues, and a deep aerospace talent pool.

The Accelerator aims to support existing regional projects, including:

• SkyNRG: A Dutch company planning a facility in Walla Walla, WA, to convert biogas into jet fuel.
• Twelve: A carbon-transformation company backed by Alaska Airlines, currently building a plant in Moses Lake, WA, to produce fuel from CO2.
• Montana Renewables: A producer in Great Falls, MT, which recently received a conditional loan guarantee from the Department of Energy to expand production serving the region.

“This is a systems issue that no one company can solve. You’ve got great companies… ready to use this fuel, but we have to make it available.”

, Guy Palumbo, Amazon Director of Public Policy, via launch event remarks

AirPro News Analysis

The launch of the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator marks a shift from individual corporate sustainability goals to a systemic regional strategy. While the target of 1 billion gallons by 2035 is aggressive, the bifurcation of the initiative into an “Accelerator” (finance/policy) and an “Institute” (R&D) suggests a mature understanding of the bottlenecks.

The primary challenge for the CSAA will be feedstock logistics. While the Pacific Northwest has abundant forestry and agricultural waste, the infrastructure to collect, transport, and process these materials at a scale capable of producing 1 billion gallons does not yet exist. Furthermore, the involvement of corporate giants like Amazon and Microsoft is critical; their willingness to pay a “green premium” for sustainable air cargo and travel could provide the demand certainty that producers need to secure financing for new plants.

Success will likely depend on how quickly the Institute can streamline the fuel certification process, which has historically been a slow hurdle for new SAF pathways.

Sources:

• Alaska Airlines Newsroom
• Washington State University News
• GeekWire
• Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator