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Senate committee urges DOT to speed adoption of sustainable aviation fuels, DOT says plan already underway
Summary
The Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts passed HCR 70 urging the Department of Transportation to facilitate and accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) use. DOT told the committee it is already incorporating SAF into an energy security and waste‑reduction plan and will produce a targeted progress report this summer.
The Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts on Tuesday passed House Concurrent Resolution 70, requesting the Department of Transportation to facilitate and accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels as part of Hawaii’s decarbonization efforts.
The resolution asks DOT to coordinate with airlines and other stakeholders on steps to expand use of sustainable aviation fuels, or SAF, to help the state meet climate goals. The committee voted to pass the measure unamended; recorded votes at the committee level included Chair Lee (aye), the vice chair (aye), Sen. Elefante (aye) and Sen. DeCorte (no); Sen. Kanuha was excused.
The resolution drew a mix of written testimony and brief in-person remarks. Parsons, representing the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, told the committee the group supports further conversation with DOT and is available for questions. Mark Inouye and other proponents signed on in support, either in person or via written testimony.
Laura, a Department of Transportation representative, told the committee DOT is already working on items similar to those in the resolution. "Yes. Yes, we are. We are definitely incorporating clean fuels and sustainable aviation fuel into our...energy security and waste reduction plan and reaching out to the airlines to get their input and collaboration," she said.
Laura said DOT expects to release an energy security plan this summer and that the resolution would prompt a targeted follow-up report before the next legislative session. "It would have us come back and do a targeted report showing the progress made, before next session," she said, adding the report would emphasize legislative strategies and logistical hurdles to expanding SAF statewide.
The committee did not amend the resolution. Committee records show the measure will move forward to the next stage of legislative processing.
The resolution and DOT’s planned report are intended to clarify near‑term steps and identify barriers — including logistical and legislative issues — to broader SAF adoption in Hawaii’s aviation sector.
