The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a critical loan guarantee for Montana Renewables, a subsidiary of Calumet Specialty Products, to significantly expand its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery in Great Falls, Montana. This approval, finalized under the Biden administration, comes despite concerns that the Trump administration might reconsider such green energy initiatives as part of ongoing cost-cutting measures.
The $700 million loan will allow the Montana facility to boost its SAF production capacity from 140 million to 315 million gallons annually, making it one of the largest SAF producers in North America. This expansion will supply nearly half of the region’s sustainable jet fuel, derived from renewable sources such as seed oils and tallow, which emit fewer greenhouse gases than traditional jet fuel.
The loan’s approval highlights the political influence of Montana’s Republican Senator Steve Daines, who strongly advocated for the project, framing it as part of Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda. Despite initial uncertainty over the future of clean energy funding, the loan survived under the Biden administration’s review, though broader funding for green projects remains a subject of scrutiny.
While the approval marks a significant step in the growth of sustainable aviation fuel production in the U.S., it also underscores the delicate balance between advancing clean energy initiatives and navigating shifting political priorities.
Refinery Picture by Stockcake.
