An alliance of eight airlines at Los Angeles International Airport has agreed to a multi-year deal to use renewable synthetic diesel for ground service equipment operations.

The deal, which calls for up to 1.5 million gallons of the synthetic fuel, will not take effect until late 2012, when the fuel will be commercially available, according to a press release.

A factory to produce the fuel is being constructed by Rentech, which struck the deal with Aircraft Service International Group, which contracts for services at LAX.

Airlines involved in the deal include:

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines,
UPS Airlines
US Airways
The fuel, which is said to have a carbon footprint of zero, will be produced under biomass gasification from green waste at Rentech’s proposed Rialto Renewable Energy Center. Rentech says the fuel is biodegradable and virtually free of particulates. Rentech also has developed a synthetic jet fuel.

Source:http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/08/18/delta-southwest-united-others-to-adopt-biodiesel-for-lax-ground-equipment/