Montana Renewables Signs Bold 70M-Gallon SAF Agreement

Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) and World Energy Clean Fuels LLC have agreed to deliver more than 70 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel over three years. That commitment is projected to reduce up to 600,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions from aviation. The deal also advances American energy independence and creates sustained purchasing demand for Pacific Northwest farm and ranch products.

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What Does the MRL-World Energy SAF Agreement Actually Deliver?

The agreement, announced February 19, 2026, commits to more than 70 million gallons of SAF over three years (Montana Renewables and World Energy, February 2026). MRL is based in Great Falls, Montana. It is one of the largest SAF producers in North America, a position it held as of 2024. MRL is an unrestricted subsidiary of Calumet, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMT), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

World Energy Clean Fuels LLC is the world's first commercial-scale SAF producer. Founded in Boston in 1998, the company began commercial SAF production in 2016. It serves major corporations in technology, pharmaceuticals, aviation, finance, and business services, supporting their aviation decarbonization goals through physical SAF supply and verified emissions credits.

Both companies bring complementary capabilities. MRL contributes production scale and established Pacific Northwest feedstock supply chains. World Energy brings a global corporate client network, nearly three decades of bioenergy experience, and deep expertise in SAF distribution and carbon credit markets.

The deal reduces aviation CO2 emissions, reinforces domestic energy independence, and sustains economic demand for Pacific Northwest agricultural feedstocks and the farming communities that supply them.

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How Is MRL's MaxSAF 150 Expansion Reshaping North American SAF Supply?

MRL's MaxSAF 150 expansion targets 120 to 150 million gallons of SAF annually, with a planned Q2 2026 startup (Calumet, Inc., 2026). That represents a fourfold increase over the facility's prior production output. The Great Falls site has been running since late 2022, producing around 140 million gallons per year, mostly renewable diesel.

MaxSAF 150 shifts the facility's output decisively toward aviation fuel. The expansion is backed by a $1.44 billion Department of Energy loan. This makes it one of the largest SAF capital investments in North America.

Feedstock for the Great Falls plant comes from Pacific Northwest farms and ranches. The mix includes tallow, canola oil, distillers corn oil, used cooking oil, and camelina oil. Post-expansion, feedstock purchases from regional farms are expected to double, creating a direct economic multiplier across rural Montana and neighboring agricultural communities.

Why Does World Energy's Pioneer SAF Track Record Strengthen This Deal?

World Energy is the world's first commercial-scale SAF producer, with production commencing in 2016 from its Paramount, California facility. Its certified SAF achieves more than 80% lifecycle emissions reductions versus conventional jet fuel (World Energy, 2024). That performance benchmark makes it one of the most credible SAF suppliers available to corporate buyers worldwide.

World Energy pioneered the global carbon insets market for aviation. This model allows corporate clients to acquire the environmental attributes derived from SAF. Companies can then decarbonize their aviation operations without managing direct fuel logistics or supply chains.

Through this agreement, World Energy gains expanded SAF supply from MRL. That increases the volume of verified SAF and emissions credits available to its global client base. The long-term contract validates the capital MRL is deploying through MaxSAF 150.

Company	Role in Agreement	Key Credential	Location
Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL)	SAF Producer	One of North America's largest SAF producers (2024); MaxSAF 150 targets 120 to 150 million gallons per year	Great Falls, Montana
World Energy Clean Fuels LLC	SAF Offtaker and Distributor	World's first commercial-scale SAF producer (production since 2016); pioneer of the global carbon insets market; 80%+ lifecycle emissions reductions vs conventional jet fuel	Boston, Massachusetts

What Does This Deal Signal for the SAF Market in 2026?

IATA estimates airlines globally will need 120 billion gallons of SAF per year by 2050 to reach net-zero CO2 emissions. Global SAF production reached approximately 1.9 billion liters in 2024, covering just 0.7% of total aviation fuel consumption (IATA, 2025). Aviation demand itself is projected to double by 2050, widening that supply gap further.

Multi-year supply agreements are one of the key tools that bridge today's output and future demand. They give producers the commercial certainty needed to justify large capital investments. They give distributors predictable volume to serve growing corporate commitments.

U.S. policy is also reinforcing investment confidence. The Inflation Reduction Act's 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit provides 35 cents per gallon for domestically produced SAF (U.S. DOE). That financial runway supports producers like MRL as they scale toward higher output levels.

World Energy's multi-year commitment to MRL signals that buyer confidence in North American SAF supply is maturing. Agreements of this scale reward early movers and attract additional capital into the SAF production ecosystem across the continent.

A North American SAF Supply Chain Built to Scale

MRL already serves markets in Illinois, Minnesota, the Rockies, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and California. Adding World Energy's global corporate network extends that commercial reach significantly. Together, they cover production, distribution, and verified emissions accounting across the net-zero aviation supply chain.

As MaxSAF 150 commissions in Q2 2026, MRL will enter a production ramp built to serve expanded customer commitments at scale. World Energy has the distribution infrastructure and client relationships to move that volume efficiently. More than 70 million gallons committed. Up to 600,000 metric tonnes of CO2 reduced. This is what scaling sustainable aviation actually looks like.