SkyNRG announced a key milestone for Project Wigeon, a planned sustainable aviation fuel facility in Eastern Washington, after securing environmental approvals from the Washington State Department of Ecology and Walla Walla County.
These approvals confirm that the project meets state and local environmental standards, including requirements related to land use, water protection, and fuel transportation. Project Wigeon will be among North America’s first commercial-scale SAF projects producing jet fuel from renewable natural gas (RNG).
“Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to reduce harmful emissions, which is why SkyNRG is building SAF facilities such as Project Wigeon around the world,” said John Plaza, Chief Executive Officer of SkyNRG Americas. “The Department of Ecology’s environmental review and Walla Walla County’s approval demonstrate our commitment to building this facility the right way—using industry-leading technology and conducting robust analysis of environmental impacts. This milestone allows SkyNRG to continue delivering clean fuel to major airports, building economic opportunity in Eastern Washington, and protecting natural resources and community health for years to come.”
“For several years, Boeing has supported SkyNRG’s efforts to develop SAF in the Pacific Northwest to enable our industry’s long-term growth, innovation, and efficiency,” said Allison Melia, Vice President of Sustainability at Boeing. “We look forward to leveraging SAF supply from SkyNRG and others for our operations as we increase airplane production to meet strong demand for our products.”
SkyNRG’s new facility supports a fast-emerging SAF global market as the aviation industry looks to develop new, domestically produced fuel options to meet rising demand and reduce emissions. Demand for SAF is accelerating, with global demand projected to reach five billion gallons by 2030 and more than 12 billion gallons by 2035.
Environmental Permitting Progress
In December 2025, Walla Walla County issued Project Wigeon its Critical Areas Permit, which documents the facility’s compliance with local environmental regulations.
The Critical Areas Permit was preceded by the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) in September 2025. The MDNS reflects the state’s conclusion that there are no significant adverse outcomes resulting from the project that are not mitigated.
The facility’s mitigation measures address local air emissions, clean fuel transportation, use of local water supplies, and groundwater impacts. This includes energy-efficient technologies built into the facility’s design and operations, creating a durable foundation for both environmental protection and long-term economic growth in the region.
Key aspects of the project include:
- Closed-loop industrial water system (Zero Liquid Discharge): All industrial and process water produced at Project Wigeon will be treated and reused on site, avoiding discharge, storage in ponds, or dispersal into groundwater.
- Water conservation: The facility will use water from the Port of Walla Walla water system and will maximize recycling to reduce overall water demand.
- Energy Production: Project Wigeon will utilize by-products of SAF production and excess steam to produce electricity on-site to offset impacts on the state’s electricity grid and reduce the overall lifecycle emissions of SAF.
- Air quality protections: The facility will be designed to operate under stringent air permit conditions set by state regulators, with ongoing monitoring and reporting.
- Stormwater management: Engineered containment systems will manage and control stormwater to protect surrounding land and water resources to limit impacts to local groundwater.
- Transportation safety and coordination: The transportation plan for SAF deliveries prioritizes safe, reliable methods for rail and trucks, purpose-built loading and containment areas that are aligned with federal and state requirements. Coordination with local partners and emergency services will be factored into project development and regular operations.
These measures, and the secured state and county approvals, are the result of more than three years of analysis and studies provided to state regulators, local officials, technical experts, and community leaders. This collaboration ensures the facility meets Washington’s highest environmental and community standards.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
SAF is made from sustainable resources and can be used alongside traditional jet fuel to reduce emissions. It is a “drop-in” fuel, meaning it can be used without changes to aircraft or fueling infrastructure once blended and certified.
Fuel produced at the Walla Walla site will use RNG feedstocks, otherwise known as biogenic methane. RNG is collected from domestic landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and manure from animal farms, and can be delivered to Project Wigeon through existing infrastructure. SAF produced at Project Wigeon can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions up to 85% compared to fossil jet fuel, based on Washington state’s emissions calculators, and can materially reduce particulate and sulfur emissions from jet aircraft that burn traditional jet fuel.
Washington’s Role in Scaling the SAF Industry
Washington state is a national leader in SAF policy, backed by bipartisan support to scale clean fuels, cut emissions, improve air quality, and strengthen U.S. energy independence through domestic aviation fuel production.
That leadership is reinforced by policies such as Senate Bill 5447, signed into law in 2023, which established one of the nation’s most effective incentives to scale sustainable aviation fuel. The state legislature has also demonstrated long-standing leadership through the Washington State Alternative Jet Fuels Workgroup. Created in 2011, this leadership group advances SAF development statewide through coordinated policy recommendations that support innovation, job creation, and emission reduction across the state’s aviation sector.
In addition to legislative support for SAF production and use, the executive branch has played an active role as a partner in advancing this work. In 2025, the Washington State Department of Commerce awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Port of Walla Walla to support SkyNRG’s construction of the facility, underscoring the project’s economic potential and the state’s commitment to advancing energy transition opportunities.
