XCF Global Targets California With Historic 50-Million-Gallon SAF Site

XCF Global (Nasdaq: SAFX) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Paramount, California renewable fuels facility, adding approximately 50 million gallons of annual production capacity across sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha to its growing platform. The deal, announced October 20, 2026, targets a site with a longer history in renewable fuels than almost any other in North America. If the acquisition closes before the end of 2026 as expected, XCF plans to restart operations within 9 to 12 months following a roughly $30 million investment.

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What Makes the Paramount Site So Significant?

The Paramount, California facility at 14700 Downey Ave isn't just another idle refinery. It was the first U.S. refinery to convert from fossil fuel processing to renewable fuels production, and the first in North America to produce sustainable aviation fuel at commercial scale, beginning in 2016. That history gives this site a distinct standing in the domestic SAF supply chain. The infrastructure, the processing history, and the regulatory precedents already in place are all starting points that a greenfield facility wouldn't have.

The facility's potential capacity of approximately 50 million gallons per year spans SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha. The actual product mix under XCF's operation will depend on configuration choices, market conditions, and operational sequencing. XCF's flagship New Rise Reno site in Nevada followed a similar multi-product ramp-up model before advancing toward its planned SAF configuration.

The site sits less than 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. LAX served more than 76 million passengers annually as of 2026, placing Paramount within a high-demand aviation fuel market. XCF has not announced specific fuel supply arrangements with the airport at this stage, and any such agreements would require separate commercial negotiation.

>> RELATED: XCF Global Moves to Double SAF Production With New Rise Reno Expansion

What Does the Restart Plan Actually Look Like?

The facility is currently idle. XCF expects to invest approximately $30 million during the restart period, directed primarily at workforce training and operational readiness. The company has said it intends to retain and expand the current Paramount team, with plans to more than double headcount as restart activities get underway. The acquisition, once closed, creates New Rise Renewables Paramount, LLC as a new XCF subsidiary.

For feedstock supply and fuel offtake, XCF plans to extend its BGN INT US LLC partnership to the Paramount site. BGN's definitive agreements at New Rise Reno, executed in July 2026, cover feedstock supply, production logistics, and commercialization across SAF, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha. The Paramount arrangement remains a plan, contingent on the acquisition closing and restart completing. These are proposed activities, not active operations.

The infrastructure already at Paramount, including storage tanks, blending equipment, rail and truck loading capability, and interests in more than 65 miles of pipeline connections into Southern California distribution hubs, reduces the capital needed to reach production readiness. Approximately $30 million for restart is notable relative to the 50 million gallons of potential capacity the site brings. By contrast, XCF's $300 million New Rise Reno 2 expansion in Nevada is building new capacity from scratch on an adjacent parcel.

How Paramount Compares to XCF's Existing Sites

New Rise Reno is a purpose-built HEFA renewable fuels facility. It began producing renewable diesel in July 2026 and is designed to transition into SAF production. Its strength is a modular, patent-pending layout that allows flexible production switching without process modifications. Its capacity is 38 million gallons per year.

Paramount's edge is logistics depth and market proximity. The 65-plus miles of pipeline connections into Southern California, a major fuel distribution region, add distribution infrastructure that Nevada doesn't offer. The site also adds California market access with existing regulatory approvals for renewable fuels production, a meaningful starting point in a state where U.S. SAF supply has scaled steadily and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard creates some of the world's strongest producer incentives.

Facility	Location	Capacity (gal/yr)	Status	Key Infrastructure
New Rise Reno	McCarran, NV	38 million	Active (RD production, advancing toward SAF)	Rail, truck, on-site feedstock storage
New Rise Reno 2 (planned)	McCarran, NV	~40 million	Engineering / Pre-construction (target: 2028)	Adjacent to New Rise Reno, shared utilities
New Rise Renewables Paramount (proposed)	Paramount, CA	~50 million (SAF, RD, naphtha)	Acquisition pending; restart 9 to 12 months post-close	65+ miles pipeline, rail, truck terminal, blending

How Does Paramount Fit the Broader U.S. SAF Picture?

U.S. SAF production represented approximately 2% of domestic jet fuel demand in 2026, per the EIA. The federal SAF Grand Challenge targets 3 billion gallons per year by 2030. Current national production capacity falls well short of that goal. Reactivating existing, permitted renewable fuel sites is one of the faster paths to closing that gap, without the full capital burden of greenfield construction.

The Paramount facility's track record as the first U.S. commercial-scale SAF site makes it a proven location. Other newer SAF production pathways are entering the market, but Paramount's existing HEFA-compatible infrastructure remains aligned with current aviation fuel blending standards. California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which creates tradeable credits for low-carbon intensity fuels, adds a state-level incentive layer that makes the Paramount location commercially attractive beyond its production history alone.

XCF has also made domestic feedstock sourcing a core part of its production model. The Paramount site historically processed waste oils and animal fats, the same feedstock class XCF uses at Reno. BGN's global trading and logistics network is expected to support that sourcing, but those arrangements are still proposed and subject to the acquisition closing.

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