Planes fueled by trash could be the future of green aviation

Airlines have asked Congress for a tax credit for cleaner fuels.

Could a flight you take in the next decade be powered by trash and sugar? Some aviation industry leaders hope so, and they are asking lawmakers to help make flying better for the Earth.

Sustainable aviation fuels, or SAFs, are biofuels that can be made from many different products, including municipal waste like trash, corn or sugar. They could be a game-changer in reducing the high emissions currently caused by air travel.

But sustainable fuels are also more expensive than traditional jet fuels. Experts said that tax credits and other government incentives might be the only thing to get producers to move toward sustainable fuels.

Many members of the airline industry, including major airlines like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, sent a letter to congressional leaders Friday asking for a tax credit to incentivize the production and use of SAF. In the letter, they asked Congress to provide a tax credit of $1.50 to $2.00 per gallon of SAF.