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Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy

Deals & Cases
June 1, 2022
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES INVESTS IN SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PILOT PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Background Image
Deals & Cases
June 1, 2022

Vinson & Elkins advised Southwest Airlines Co. in connection with an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC, as part of a Department of Energy (DOE)-backed project to develop and produce scalable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Funded with a DOE grant matched by Southwest’s investment, SAFFiRE is expected to utilize technology developed by the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to convert corn stover, a widely available waste feedstock in the U.S., into renewable ethanol that then would be upgraded into SAF.

The V&E team was led by partners Robert Kimball and Danielle Patterson, senior associate JP Lopez and counsel Rajesh Patel, with assistance from associates John Larbalestier and Tessa Krieger-Carlisle. Also advising were associate Claire Wenholz; partner David Peck and senior associate Lauren Meyers; partner Devika Kornbacher and associate Alexa Chally; partner John Decker; and partner Margaret Peloso.

About Vinson & Elkins
For more than a century, Vinson & Elkins has provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration across 13 offices worldwide, V&E lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

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