Twelve Opens First US Commercial Power-to-Liquid SAF Plant

Industrial carbon transformation company Twelve officially opened AirPlant One in Moses Lake, Washington, on June 10, 2026, establishing the first commercial-scale facility in the United States dedicated to producing power-to-liquid SAF. The facility utilizes captured carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity to manufacture synthetic fuel without upstream fossil fuel extraction.

In a press release issued by Twelve, the company confirmed the plant is now operational and producing E-Jet fuel, alongside a byproduct called E-Naphtha. The milestone follows a $645 million funding round secured in September 2024 to scale operations and fulfills a 2022 joint commitment from Alaska Airlines (AS) and Microsoft Corporation to purchase the facility’s output.

Commercializing power-to-liquid aviation fuel

Twelve’s proprietary process bypasses traditional biomass-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production methods. Instead, the Moses Lake facility synthesizes drop-in aviation fuel directly from renewable electricity, water, and captured carbon dioxide. According to the company, this E-Jet fuel delivers up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.

Beyond emissions reductions, the power-to-liquid model introduces a new economic framework for Airlines fuel procurement. Because the primary input cost is electricity, production can be tied to long-term power purchase agreements. Twelve states this structure can offer airlines price predictability horizons exceeding 10 years, insulating operators from the volatility of global crude oil markets.

“We broke ground on AirPlant One with a simple thesis: that the fuels powering the global economy could be made from renewable electricity and air, anywhere in the world,” said Nicholas Flanders, Co-Founder and CEO of Twelve. “Today, that thesis is operational and Alaska Airlines will fly on fuel made right here in Washington State.”

Corporate Partnerships and market demand

The development of AirPlant One relied heavily on early demand signals from major corporate partners. In 2022, Alaska Airlines and Microsoft committed to purchasing the facility’s future output, providing the commercial foundation necessary to secure project financing. Alaska Star Ventures, the airline’s investment arm, also participated in Twelve’s recent funding rounds.

Ryan Spies, Managing Director of Sustainability for Alaska Airlines, noted that the partnership demonstrates how collaboration can advance SAF technology while diversifying fuel supply chains and strengthening energy security.

Microsoft is utilizing a book-and-claim accounting model to apply the environmental attributes of the E-Jet fuel toward reducing its reported business travel emissions. Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Microsoft, stated that the company’s investment helps scale energy solutions and lays the groundwork for cleaner aviation globally.

AirPro News analysis

The activation of AirPlant One represents a critical pivot point for the US sustainable aviation fuel market. While biomass-derived SAF currently dominates the limited global supply, agricultural and waste feedstock constraints will eventually cap its scalability. Power-to-liquid synthetic fuels offer a theoretically limitless production ceiling, provided sufficient renewable energy and carbon capture infrastructure exist.

We view the localized production aspect as increasingly vital. As international Regulations begin mandating physical SAF blending at specific airports rather than relying entirely on book-and-claim credits, domestic facilities like AirPlant One will become essential infrastructure. The ability to offer airlines decade-long fixed fuel prices could also fundamentally alter airline cost structures if power-to-liquid production reaches parity with conventional jet fuel volumes.

Sources: Twelve Benefit Corporation