Development of a Great Lakes Sustainable Fuel Hub Catalyzing the Concept

September 1, 2026

Public Sector Consultants examined an emerging opportunity at the intersection of Michigan agriculture and aviation decarbonization involving the state’s corn and ethanol economy. The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan commissioned PSC to better understand the state’s position in becoming the foundation for a sustainable aviation fuel hub. This report finds that Southeast Michigan is uniquely positioned to develop an ethanol-to-jet production hub, thanks to a rare combination of feedstock access, an international air gateway, and deepwater export capacity within a single 30-mile logistics footprint. With Michigan’s 11,000 corn farmers facing a growing grain surplus and the aviation industry under pressure to meet ambitious climate targets, PSC’s analysis lays out the market forces, technical questions, and pre-feasibility work needed to move this concept toward investment.

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The Path Forward

Michigan has a strong agricultural base, a uniquely confluent set of logistics, and access to a large corn and soybean supply capable of supporting feedstock demand. A sustainable fuel hub of this type could support local agriculture, strengthen domestic sustainable fuel supply chains, and position Michigan as an early leader in the SAF market. As one of the first projects of its kind in the state and the region, there may also be long-term strategic advantages tied to early market positioning and future regulatory alignment.

Bringing this project from concept to operation requires investment and action at a few key phases, with cost and commitment increasing as the project moves from coalition-building to construction.