October 14, 2025
State House Rally
The Letter delivered to the Executive Office of the Governor was signed by over 50 organizations and covers:
Rejection of SAF policies - Urging Massachusetts Governor Healey and state legislators to reject policies and subsidies promoting "Sustainable" Aviation Fuels (SAFs)
SAFs are not climate solutions - All SAFs are primarily fossil jet fuel (blended 10-50%), produce as much or more CO2 as conventional jet fuel, and scaling up production is unrealistic (would need 227,400% increase by 2050)
Major drawbacks of all SAF types - Crop-based SAFs threaten food security and cause deforestation; waste-based SAFs have minuscule supply; e-fuels require enormous amounts of energy to produce
Misalignment with climate goals - SAFs cannot help Massachusetts achieve net zero by 2050 and divert resources from proven solutions like clean electric grid conversion
False solution concerns - SAFs compared to past failed "solutions" like clean coal and ethanol, representing industry greenwashing rather than genuine climate action
Alternative recommendations - Prioritize 100% clean electric grid, clean public transit, and reducing demand for unnecessary flights, especially private jets
“If Massport thinks that we will be distracted by the supposedly bright, shiny object of SAFs and accept the North Airfield project, because someday, a few decades from now, some highly expensive and still environmentally damaging but differently produced fuel is being sold there, they have badly underestimated our determination to stop this project.”
- Alex Chatfield, SPJE Steering Committee Member
“It’s a matter of political will. Massachusetts has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. How can we take that goal seriously if we greenlight projects like this? We can’t. How can we tell working families to switch to electric cars, to insulate their homes, take the T while letting the ultra-rich burn jet fuel to [take] quick flights to the Caribbean? That would be a moral failure.”
- Massachusetts State Representative, Carmine Gentile, 13th Middlesex
October 14th Event Information
10 - 10:30 AM - Rainy rally on the State House Steps
10:30 - Speakers Remarks in Room 222 featuring:
Welcome & Closing: Alex Chatfield, SPJE Coalition
Sen. Mike Barrett, for the 3rd Middlesex District, MA
Rep. Carmine Gentile, for the 13th Middlesex District, MA
Chuck Collins, director of Program on Inequality and the Common Good, Institute for Policy Studies (IPS): co-author of new SAF report - to be released on day of Rally
Claire Karl Muller, coordinator of Mass Power Forward and Movement Building Director for UU Mass Action
Lara Sullivan, Project Manager, SPJE Coalition
12:00 PM - Letter Delivery, Governor’s Executive Office
SAF Sign-on Letter presented to Deputy Climate Chief Aladdine Joroff by Diane Proctor, League of Women Voters Concord-Carlisle. Proceeded by singing in the hallways of the State House
12:30 PM - Volunteers distribute handouts with the event’s message to all legislators
News Coverage
October 14, 2025
Airfield Expansion Opponents Dismiss "Greenwashing Campaign" by Ella Adams for the State House News Service
Also published by WWLP News 22, and The Commonwealth Beacon