Microsoft, Alaska Airlines Back Twelve’s First U.S. Commercial E-Jet Fuel Plant
- Twelve’s AirPlant One in Moses Lake, Washington is the first U.S. commercial-scale facility producing E-Jet fuel from CO2, renewable electricity, and water.
- Alaska Airlines plans regular domestic flights using the plant’s E-Jet SAF, with Microsoft supporting the scale-up through investment and SAF offtake.
- The facility also produces E-Naphtha, a fossil-free feedstock for plastics, packaging, solvents, synthetic fibers, and consumer goods.
U.S. E-Jet Fuel Moves From Concept to Commercial Production
Twelve has opened AirPlant One, the first commercial-scale facility in the United States to produce E-Jet fuel made from carbon dioxide, renewable electricity, and water.
The plant marks a new phase for power-to-liquid sustainable aviation fuel. Unlike bio-based SAF, which relies on agricultural or waste feedstocks, Twelve’s E-Jet fuel uses captured CO2 and renewable power. The result is a drop-in synthetic jet fuel designed for existing aircraft, engines, and airport infrastructure.
The facility is already producing on-spec jet fuel that meets ASTM International certification standards for commercial aviation use. Alaska Airlines will operate regular domestic flights using E-Jet SAF made at AirPlant One.
The ribbon cutting brought together Twelve, Alaska Airlines, and Microsoft. The companies are positioning the plant as both a clean aviation asset and a model for domestic industrial production without upstream fossil extraction.
“We broke ground on AirPlant One with a simple thesis: that the fuels powering the global economy could be made from renewable electricity and air, anywhere in the world,” said Nicholas Flanders, Co-Founder and CEO of Twelve. Today, that thesis is operational and Alaska Airlines will fly on fuel made right here in Washington State. This is what American industrial electrification looks like.

Power-to-Liquid SAF Targets Aviation’s Hardest Emissions
Aviation remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Long-haul aircraft cannot be easily electrified, and airlines face rising pressure from regulators, investors, and corporate customers to reduce lifecycle emissions.
Twelve’s E-Jet fuel is produced through its eManufacturing process. The system combines captured CO2 with water and renewable electricity, then converts those inputs into hydrocarbon fuel molecules using electrolyzers.
The company says its E-Jet SAF can deliver up to 90% lower lifecycle CO2 emissions compared with conventional jet fuel. It also requires less water and land than many biofuel pathways.
For airlines, the drop-in nature of the fuel is critical. SAF can be used in today’s aircraft without fleet changes, which helps carriers address emissions while avoiding major infrastructure disruption.
The economics also differ from conventional jet fuel. Twelve says costs can be anchored to long-term power purchase agreements rather than crude oil markets. That may allow airlines to secure longer-term price predictability across fuel contracts.
For carriers managing large fuel budgets, this could shift SAF from a compliance expense into a strategic procurement tool.
Alaska Airlines and Microsoft Helped Create Early Demand
Alaska Airlines and Microsoft played a central role in moving AirPlant One from construction to commercial operation. In 2022, the companies committed to purchase output from the facility. That demand helped support financing and construction.
Alaska Star Ventures also participated in Twelve’s $645 million funding round. The partnership now spans procurement, investment, and flight operations. “As Seattle’s hometown airline, we are committed to supporting in-state production of sustainable aviation fuel, which is currently the best technology for the airline industry to reach net-zero carbon emissions”, said Ryan Spies, Alaska Airlines Managing Director of Sustainability. Our partnership with Twelve and Microsoft demonstrates the power of innovation and collaboration to successfully advance SAF, while creating new jobs, diversifying fuel supply chains and strengthening energy security.
Microsoft backed the plant through its Climate Innovation Fund and a SAF offtake agreement. The company will use a book-and-claim accounting model, developed with Alaska Airlines, to reduce reported emissions linked to business travel.
“Climate progress depends on collaborations that send signals to investors and innovators to move markets,” said Melanie Nakagawa, CVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, Microsoft. Our investment in Twelve helps scale energy solutions while laying the groundwork for cleaner aviation at a global scale. We look forward to sourcing future gallons of Washington-produced SAF to help reduce our business travel emissions.

E-Naphtha Expands the Climate Opportunity Beyond Aviation
AirPlant One is also producing E-Naphtha, a CO2-derived chemical feedstock made from renewable energy and water.
Naphtha is a foundational input for thousands of everyday products. It is used in plastics, packaging, solvents, synthetic fibers, and other materials. Twelve’s E-Naphtha is chemically identical to traditional naphtha, allowing manufacturers to use it as a drop-in substitute.
The company has already worked with Mercedes-Benz, PANGAIA, and Procter & Gamble on proof-of-concept products. These include automotive components, sunglass lenses, and CO2-based ingredients for Tide laundry detergent.
Twelve argues that eChemicals can help manufacturers reduce fossil dependence at the raw-material level. The value proposition is not only emissions reduction. It also includes domestic supply chains, predictable input costs, and reduced exposure to crude oil volatility.
Consumer interest may support that shift. Twelve said a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers found that 74% would choose a CO2-based product over a conventional oil-derived product if quality is equal.
Global SAF Mandates Raise the Stakes
AirPlant One opens as governments are tightening aviation fuel rules. European SAF mandates are creating long-term demand. Singapore has also moved to require SAF to be physically loaded at Changi Airport, rather than only credited through paper-based claims.
Those policy shifts matter for airlines and suppliers. SAF availability is no longer only a climate target. It is becoming a market access and compliance issue.
For executives, the Moses Lake plant offers a test case in how aviation, energy, and industrial policy may converge. It links renewable power, carbon utilization, airline procurement, and corporate travel emissions into one supply chain.
For investors, it also shows how early offtake agreements can help finance first-of-a-kind climate infrastructure.
The broader question is whether power-to-liquid production can scale fast enough to meet future aviation demand. AirPlant One does not solve the SAF supply gap alone. But it gives the U.S. market a commercial reference point.
As SAF mandates expand and airlines face growing fuel-price and carbon-risk exposure, domestic e-fuel production could become a strategic asset. For now, AirPlant One places Washington State at the center of a new aviation fuel economy built from electricity, carbon, and air.
The ESG News Editorial Team is comprised of veteran financial journalists and sustainability analysts dedicated to providing real-time, objective reporting on global ESG regulations, climate finance, and corporate governance. Our desk monitors daily developments from the SEC, IFRS, CSRD and international regulatory bodies to ensure our 1M+ readers receive accurate, data-driven insights into the evolving sustainable investment landscape. Follow the ESG News Editorial Team for expert reporting on global sustainability standards, ESG disclosures, and climate policy. Access over 10,000 investigative reports and real-time updates.







