SEATTLE (AP) -- Major airports in the Pacific Northwest are joining Boeing Co., Alaska Airlines and Washington State University to study how biomass sources might produce aviation fuel.
The six-month study announced Monday will look at how a biofuels industry might be created in the Northwest and used to power jet fleets. Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International and Spokane International will take part.
Boeing has said that by 2015, it and other aircraft makers and airlines want to use biofuels for 1 percent of annual fuel consumption -- about 500 million to 600 million gallons.
Among the possible fuel sources are algae, wood byproducts and farm crops. Proponents say biofuels could eliminate millions of tons of greenhouse gases.
