Calumet Inc's renewable energy division has received a conditional loan guarantee of up to $1.44 billion from the US government to support the expansion of its renewable fuels production in Montana. The announcement was made by the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday.
If finalized, the loan guarantee will aid Montana Renewables LLC in enhancing its renewable fuels facility in Great Falls, aiming to more than double its output to approximately 315 million gallons per year, primarily in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The Great Falls plant, operational since late 2022, currently produces around 140 million gallons of biofuels annually, including SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha, with the majority sourced from vegetable oils, fats, and greases.
Calumet stated that the expansion would position it as one of the largest SAF producers globally, with the potential to manufacture 300 million gallons of SAF and 330 million gallons of combined SAF and renewable diesel. The company plans to commence construction in 2025 and complete the project by 2028.
This commitment aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's objective to enhance domestic SAF production to 3 billion gallons annually by 2030, escalating to 35 billion gallons by 2050.
