New SAF Project Announced In Louisiana
Southern Energy Renewables, a U.S.-based developer of biomass-to-fuels projects, announced it will invest $1.4 billion to develop a green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility that will convert the abundant wood-waste biomass into some of the lowest lifecycle-carbon fuels on the market, leveraging Louisiana’s established energy infrastructure, innovation ecosystem and skilled workforce.
The new production facility located near hydrogen supply and key logistics infrastructure is Southern’s first commercial-scale development in Louisiana as it prepares for a proposed merger with DevvStream, a carbon management and monetization firm.
“Louisiana is a vital partner in advancing our production model that includes the conversion of regional wood-waste biomass sourcing, fuel production, and aviation and maritime offtake to create a first-of-its-kind platform with the potential to compete on a global stage and reduce the global reliance on China for clean fuels,” says Jay Patel, Southern Energy Renewables CEO. “With support from LED and other local partners, our roadmap is built to deliver fuels at an industrial scale with a clear cost advantage, while creating new jobs, expanding the local economy, and strengthening America’s energy leadership to meet growing demand.”
Pre-construction planning and site development activities on the project are underway. Construction is expected to begin in late 2027 with production anticipated in late 2029.
To win the project in St. Charles, the state of Louisiana offered Southern Energy Renewables a competitive incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart and a $1 million performance-based grant for infrastructure improvements. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption program.
The company is expected to create 120 direct new jobs with an average salary of $97,267, with an additional 394 indirect new jobs, for a total of 514 potential opportunities in the region.
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