---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 44520"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "44520"
heading: "Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/44520"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iii — safety"
  - "Chapter 445 — Facilities, Personnel, and Research"
---

# §44520. Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment

- (a) **In General.—** The Administrator shall continue operation of the Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment (in this section referred to as the “Center”).
- (b) **Responsibilities.—** The Center shall—
  - (1) focus on research to—
    - (A) assist in the development, qualification, and certification of the use of aviation fuel from alternative and renewable sources (such as biomass, next-generation feedstocks, alcohols, organic acids, hydrogen, bioderived chemicals and gaseous carbon) for commercial [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6);
    - (B) assist in informing the safe use of alternative aviation fuels in commercial [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) that also apply electrified [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) propulsion systems;
    - (C) reduce community exposure to civilian [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) noise and pollutant emissions;
    - (D) inform decision making to support [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) leadership on international aviation environmental issues, including the development of domestic and international standards; and
    - (E) improve and expand the scientific understanding of civil aviation noise and pollutant emissions and their impacts, as well as support the development of improved modeling approaches and tools;
  - (2) examine the use of novel technologies and other forms of innovation to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel burn in commercial [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6); and
  - (3) support collaboration with other Federal agencies, industry stakeholders, research institutions, and other relevant entities to accelerate the research, development, testing, evaluation, and demonstration programs and facilitate [United States](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-46) sustainability and competitiveness in aviation.
- (c) **Grant Authority.—** The Administrator shall carry out the work of the Center through the use of grants or other measures, as determined appropriate by the Administrator pursuant to [section 44513](/usc/49/44513.md), including through interagency agreements and coordination with other Federal agencies.
- (d) **Participation.—**
  - (1) **Participation of educational and research institutions.—** In carrying out the responsibilities described in [subsection (b)](#b), the Center shall include, as appropriate, participation by—
    - (A) institutions of higher education and research institutions that—
      - (i) have existing facilities for research, development, and testing; and
      - (ii) leverage private sector partnerships;
    - (B) other Federal agencies;
    - (C) consortia with experience across the alternative fuels supply chain, including with research, feedstock development and production, small-scale development, testing, and technology evaluation related to the creation, processing, production, and transportation of alternative aviation fuel; and
    - (D) consortia with experience in innovative technologies to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel burn in commercial [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6).
  - (2) **Use of nasa facilities.—** The Center shall, in consultation with the Administrator of NASA, consider using, on a reimbursable basis, the existing and available capacity in [aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) research facilities at the Langley Research Center, the NASA John H. Glenn Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility, and other appropriate facilities of the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–63, title X, § 1017(a), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1396.)