Gov. Pritzker Announces New $820M Sustainable Aviation Fuel Investment in Southwest Illinois

CHICAGO- ​ Governor JB Pritzker, Avina Clean Hydrogen, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the selection of Southwest Illinois as the location for Avina Clean Hydrogen’s $820 million investment for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project. The investment will enable Avina Clean Hydrogen Inc., a pioneer in the clean fuels sector, to develop its facility to produce SAF, helping meet Illinois’ clean energy goals and supporting the state’s growing clean energy economy.

“Illinois is proud to be a leader in the nation’s clean energy industry, and we’ve seen record growth over the past few years as companies choose to relocate to or expand across our state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Avina Clean Hydrogen’s new SAF production facility will support our ambitious goals for a clean energy economy by substantially reducing carbon emissions and creating new jobs for Southwest Illinois.”

“Our facility will take advantage of existing rail and pipeline infrastructure for efficient delivery of ASTM-certified fuel to Chicago O’Hare and other major airports around the Midwest region,” said Vishal Shah, Founder & CEO of Avina Clean Hydrogen. “We are excited to bring jobs, investment, and clean energy innovation to Illinois while supporting the aviation industry's decarbonization efforts.”

This investment will support the development of a state-of-the-art facility capable of producing up to 120 million gallons of SAF annually using KBR’s alcohol-to-jet technology. Over its lifespan, the project is anticipated to prevent an estimated 25 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually in aviation, with the project estimated to create at least 150 full-time jobs in Illinois along with 1,000 construction jobs. This milestone marks a major step in advancing the clean energy transition within Illinois, supporting the aviation sector’s decarbonization goals and creating significant regional economic impact.

“Clean energy production and advanced manufacturing are two key growth sectors in Illinois,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide job opportunities for hardworking Illinoisans, and aligns with the state's continued efforts to create a cleaner economic ecosystem.”

“Illinois is a leader in the clean energy industry and this project is a testament to our commitment to continuing to advance our clean energy economy,” said Senator Christopher Belt (D – Swansea). “I am thrilled to see this progress and am optimistic about the economic and labor opportunities it will bring to the Southwest region.” ​

“This project is essential to the state's commitment to creating a greener Illinois,” said Representative Dave Vella (D – Loves Park). “Investing in sustainable aviation fuel production is not only great for our environment, but also for our state's workforce and economy.” ​

“Illinois is at the forefront of clean energy innovation, and this investment further solidifies our leadership position,” said Intersect Illinois President & CEO Christy George. “By supporting the development of sustainable aviation fuel, we're not only reducing carbon emissions but also driving technological advancements and creating a more sustainable future for our state and the nation.”

With its commitment to investing $820 million and creating 157 jobs Avina Clean Hydrogen will receive Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) incentives from DCEO. REV provides competitive incentives for manufacturers across EV and renewables sectors to expand in or move to Illinois. A link to the executed REV agreement can be found here.

This major investment project is part of the State’s direct effort to achieve the goals of Illinois’ 2024 Economic Growth Plan. Building upon Illinois' success, the plan outlines a roadmap to attract record-level investments, create jobs and support communities over the next five years while laying the foundation for economic growth for generations to come. The plan lays the foundation for long-term growth by focusing on key growth industries including clean energy production and manufacturing as well as life sciences; quantum computing, AI, and microelectronics; advanced manufacturing; next generation agriculture, ag tech, and food processing; and transportation, distribution and logistics.

As noted in the plan, clean energy production and manufacturing is a growth opportunity in part due to the expectation for SAF production to achieve a 48% compounded annual growth rate to meet U.S. targets by 2030. This growth opportunity led Illinois to pass a credit for SAF that incentivizes the sale of such fuel at Illinois-based airports.

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