USA BioEnergy is driving the energy transition with its new SAF facility in Texas, leveraging JM and Honeywell technologies to produce ultra-low carbon fuels from forest thinnings.
ChemAnalyst Talks with Nick Andrews, CEO of USA BioEnergy
USA BioEnergy, a renewable fuels development and integration company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is advancing the energy transition with its new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Bon Wier, Texas, built using JM and Honeywell technologies. ChemAnalyst spoke with Nick Andrews, CEO and Co-Founder, about the facility, its use of forest thinnings, and the company’s plan to develop several advanced biorefineries producing ultra-low carbon fuels.
Complete Interview with Nick Andrews
1. Please provide an introduction to your professional background and your role at USA BioEnergy.
Nick Andrews: We created USA BioEnergy to be the world’s leader in advanced fuels. My job is to lead and deliver the performance of the company. My philosophy is that we lead together with our partners.
2. Outline the core mission and vision of USA BioEnergy, and explain how the company is contributing to the global transition toward low-carbon transportation fuels.
Nick Andrews: Our goal is to have the lowest carbon intensity score in the advanced fuels industry. We have determined that an airline like Southwest Airlines can fly 112,000 net neutral flights each year from the sustainable aviation fuel we produce from one facility.
3. The Bon Wier, Texas facility is projected to produce 65 million gallons of renewable fuels annually by 2030. What milestones are being prioritized to ensure the project remains on track from development to commissioning?
Nick Andrews: Having terrific companies like Honeywell and JM go along way of giving the funders the comfort they are seeking. Having some of the strongest commercial agreements help ensure our project remains on track.
4. Forest thinnings are identified as a primary feedstock. How does this strategy address long-term feedstock security, sustainability, and supply-chain resilience for SAF production?
Nick Andrews: We can show super redundancy of our primary feedstock at a location that was formally a plywood manufacturing facility. We have the largest and longest feedstock supply agreement in the history of advanced fuels with LP Corporation.
5. With Johnson Matthey and Honeywell technologies integrated into the facility, what features make this project stand out as an advanced and fully integrated renewable fuel model?
Nick Andrews: We use bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration as a strategy to reduce our carbon intensity score. Working together with Johnson Matthey and Honeywell as the primary technology providers we can fully integrate the processes.
6. Scaling SPK production at commercial levels involves operational and technological challenges. What hurdles are anticipated, and how is USA BioEnergy preparing to address them?
Nick Andrews: Our licensors provide performance guarantees and because of that our EPC provides a wrap that guarantees the project will be built on time, on budget and will meet the performance specifications including the ASTM certification of the fuels. Each of these companies have a big balance sheet to back their commitments.
7. A 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines has been secured. How do such long-term contracts influence market stability and shape the future of SAF adoption in the U.S.?
Nick Andrews: The most important factor for SAF adoption is access to development capital. Having long term commercial agreements are the key to giving the capital markets comfort.
8. With airlines and logistics companies targeting net-zero emissions, demand for SAF is expected to outpace supply. How is USA BioEnergy positioning itself to expand production capacity while maintaining cost competitiveness with fossil fuels?
Nick Andrews: We plan to build twelve facilities using the best fully integrated approach in the advanced fuels industry. We look for efficiencies to lower cost and increase production.
9. Beyond the U.S. market, what strategies are being considered for USA BioEnergy’s participation in the global SAF ecosystem, particularly in Europe and Asia where policy incentives and demand are strong?
Nick Andrews: We have several locations identified in southern US and are actively looking for locations in Europe, Asia and Australia.
ChemAnalyst Insights on USA BioEnergy’s Role in Low-Carbon Fuels
ChemAnalyst sees U.S. SAF demand soaring, led by airlines like Southwest, amid global decarbonization trends. USA BioEnergy turns sustainably sourced forest thinnings into ultra-low carbon SAF, renewable diesel, and naphtha. By capturing and sequestering CO2, the company drives the energy transition, boosts rural economies, and helps meet decarbonization goals.
