Texas Gov. Greg Abbot on Jan. 29 announced Summit Next Gen LLC’s proposed ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project under development near Houston qualifies under the state’s new Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) program.
Summit Agriculture Group in May 2023 announced the launch of Summit Next Gen, a SAF production platform that will utilize Honeywell’s ethanol-to-jet process to convert ethanol into SAF. Summit Next Gen in September 2024 announced it had closed on a 60-acre site on the Houston Ship Channel for development of a SAF facility.
The JETI program, launched in early 2024, is a competitive economic incentive tool that aims to attract new jobs and investments to the state of Texas. According to the governor’s office, the JETI program allows a company, school district, and the Governor’s Office to enter into an agreement for a 10-year school district maintenance and operations (M&O) tax appraised value limitation of 50%, based on qualifying job and capital investment minimums. Projects located in qualified Opportunity Zones are eligible for an additional 25% limitation on taxable value.
“Texas is where the future of America is building,” Abbott said in a Jan. 29 statement. “With a $1.6 billion investment and the largest ethanol-to-jet fuel production facility to date in all of North America, Summit Next Gen is making a Texas-sized investment in the future of Harris County and in the future of our great state. As Texas competes on the global stage for job-creating business investments, economic incentive tools such as the JETI program help attract leading projects like this advanced manufacturing facility that will create good-paying jobs for Texans. Working together, we will continue to lead the nation in energy innovation and build an even stronger and more prosperous Texas than ever before.”
“Summit Next Gen is thrilled to advance its development of the world’s largest ethanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel production facility,” said Robert Halpin, CEO of Summit Next Gen. “We believe this investment fits squarely within the strategic framework of unleashing American energy through technological innovation as our facility will play a critical role in revolutionizing the global aviation industry by providing a scalable supply of low-carbon jet fuel. The incredible leadership and support of Governor Abbott and his team, along with the Galena Park ISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Moore and his team, played a tremendous role in selecting Houston as the right location for our project and future headquarters. Strategically located on the Houston Ship Channel, this new production facility enables Summit Next Gen to leverage the existing large-scale energy infrastructure required to better serve our customers’ demands, and most importantly, access to the deep network of highly talented energy industry professionals present in the Houston region. As a result, Summit Next Gen is optimally positioned to advance this transformational project driving significant new investment in the state of Texas, creating numerous new jobs, and further cementing Texas’ position as the Energy Capital of the World.”
