Imagine using cooking oil, cover crops, tree limbs, roots, foliage and other nature-based ingredients as a made-in-Minnesota replacement for jet fuel.

When it comes to promoting regional economic development, “sustainable aviation fuel” isn’t necessarily the first image that comes to mind. Nevertheless, a coalition of the state’s leading businesses announced major milestones on Tuesday in developing a supply chain that will begin with a converted ethanol plant in Luverne and rely on a new blending facility in Rosemount to deliver a steady supply of sustainable fuel to the Delta Airlines hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

That’s no small undertaking: Delta’s MSP operations alone require 250 million gallons of fuel annually. The airline is aiming to convert 10% of its U.S.-based fuel consumption to sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, by 2030, and organizers predict other corporate customers are likely to follow.

Key aspects of the end-to-end supply chain are still in early stages of development, including the planned new blending facility at Flint Hills Resources’ Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount.

Still, the progress to date is a culmination of a year-long effort led by the Greater MSP Partnership, a St. Paul-based economic development association that counts St. Paul and Minneapolis as dues-paying members. Key partners in the burgeoning initiative include Bank of America, Ecolab and Xcel Energy.

In June 2023, Minnesota became one of the first states to enact a tax credit and construction incentive to support the development of SAF.

The impact will be showcased this week when the three-day North American SAF conference lands at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Speakers include representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Aviation Administration.

A year of SAF work

Proponents believe they’ll be able to reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions of jet fuel by more than 80%. If successful, it will be the first large-scale, end-to-end, sustainable aviation fuel supply chain in the nation, with a target market that could extend beyond Minnesota.

Current certification standards allow up to 50% neat SAF to be blended with regular jet fuel, known in the industry as Jet A. The problem? Experts say there’s not enough sustainable aviation fuel produced today to fuel the world’s airlines for a single week.

To boost production in Minnesota, efforts this past year include:

• Backed by Delta Air Lines, Flint Hill Resources is developing the state’s first SAF blending facility, with the goal of blending up to 30 million gallons of neat SAF annually at the Pine Bend refinery. The goal is to have the facility up and running by the end of 2025, at which point it will likely be the first non-coastal facility in the nation that can blend SAF with conventional jet fuel. The blended fuel will be delivered through the existing Flint Hills pipeline to MSP International, Delta’s second largest U.S. hub.

• Bank of America, Deloitte, Delta, and Ecolab have formed a “demand consortium” to purchase the first several million gallons of SAF each year. The goal is to jumpstart demand, drive down costs and rev up the market while offsetting carbon emissions related to their own employees’ business travel.

• In August, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a $16.8 million “Inflation Reduction Act” grant to convert an existing ethanol and isobutanol fuel facility in Luverne into an alcohol-to-jet fuel facility for SAF production. The plant will support the first conversion of Minnesota crops to SAF within the state.

• The University of Minnesota is developing a novel crop called winter camelina seed that can be used for multiple purposes, including producing oil for conversion into SAF. The goal is to bring the first shipment of camelina-derived SAF to MSP International this fall.

Greater MSP has predicted that key aspects of SAF production, from financing to storage and blending, will be established in Minnesota by the end of 2027, with large-scale production to follow beginning around 2028 and broader industry growth after 2035.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Minnesota State Patrol now says it has closed its investigation and dismissed Shane Roper, the state trooper involved in a fatal crash that killed 18-year-old Olivia Flores in May.

Last week, the agency said that Roper, 32, was no longer employed there but didn’t say why.

But State Patrol documents reveal an internal investigation into Roper’s actions was opened on May 18, the date of the three-vehicle crash that killed Flores and injured five others. According to the documents, Roper violated five general orders, or MSP operating policies and procedures, including oath of a Minnesota state trooper; conduct for sworn members; patrol unit, operation and maintenance; patrolling and parking; and emergency vehicle operations.

According to the statement of charges against Roper, Jeremy Geiger, the assistant chief of the State Patrol, said Roper’s actions were “reckless” and demonstrated a “clear violation” of MSP’s policies.

“Trp. Roper’s conduct has seriously undermined his integrity and trustworthiness with the public. His conduct shows a disregard for the State Patrol’s mission of traffic safety and reflects discredit upon the agency,” the state of charges said. “There is simply no justification for Trp. Roper’s decision to speed through this intersection.”

The letter of discharge, filed by Col. Christina Bogojevic, informed Roper that his last day was Sept. 3. His dismissal was reported to the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board.

Roper had previously violated 10 general orders since 2019 across four incidents before the fatal crash on May 18, 2024. His disciplinary records revealed four prior crashes caused by inattentive driving or excessive speed. In two of the incidents, Roper received a one-day suspension, records show.

Roper is now facing nine criminal charges in Olmsted County District Court, including felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation. He pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on Aug. 29. His next court appearance is scheduled for November.

According to the criminal complaint, Roper quickly approached the intersection of Apache Drive Southwest, an area where the primary entry points to the Apache Mall are located. This area tends to have “very active traffic … on a typical Saturday.”

When Roper’s car was 400 feet from the intersection, the squad camera showed a green traffic signal for eastbound traffic. A larger SUV also traveling east entered the left turn lane to go onto Memorial Parkway Southwest, obstructing the view for vehicles turning onto Apache Drive Southwest, the complaint said.

A Ford Focus with three passengers was in that turn lane and attempted to drive through the intersection.

“Due to Roper’s excessive speed (traveling 83 miles per hour and at full throttle up until 1.4 seconds before impact), when the Ford Focus started through the intersection, Roper was unable to sufficiently brake or maneuver his squad car to avoid the collision,” the complaint says.

Roper’s squad car hit the passenger side of the Ford Focus while traveling at least 55 mph. The impact sent both cars east through the intersection to collide with a Toyota Rav4. There were two people in the Toyota.

Witnesses told police that the oncoming vehicle was “flying.” Witnesses did not see or hear emergency lights or a siren.

According to the complaint, the Ford Focus driver suffered a liver laceration, a bruised kidney and numerous additional minor injuries. The front passenger suffered a broken pelvis, lacerated kidney and other minor injuries. The passengers of the Toyota Rav4 suffered physical pain from the collision. In the squad car, Roper had a ride-along passenger who suffered rib bruising and multiple fractures from the crash.

Weeks after the incident, Roper confirmed to law enforcement that he was attempting to “close the gap” between his squad car and a vehicle suspected of being in violation of a traffic code, the Rochester Post Bulletin previously reported. Roper said it was not an active pursuit and that he was not paying attention to his speed, according to the criminal complaint. He told police he did believe his lights were activated.

The complaint said Roper was also found traveling at 135 mph in a 55-mph zone on May 18 in response to a medical assistance call.

“On the way to this call, he noted to his passenger that medical assistance likely would not be needed and that driving in such a manner was normal behavior for him,” the complaint said.

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A Cottage Grove man who police say had almost 85 kilograms of methamphetamine in a trash can in his garage this summer was arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

Jonathan Henry Valencour, 44, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm as a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Law enforcement on July 16, 2024, executed a search warrant at Valencour’s house in Cottage Grove and seized 84.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint. That’s equal to about 186 pounds.

“This amount is consistent with distribution and not for personal use,” the complaint states. “In a post-Miranda statement Valencour admitted that he was a ‘runner,’ and that the drugs had been dropped off at his residence about a week ago.”

Officers also seized a firearm with an attached silencer. Because Valencour has prior felony convictions in Hennepin and Washington counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on Monday ordered Valencour to remain in custody pending further proceedings. Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cottage Grove Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst is prosecuting the case.

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As soon as linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel got to the line of scrimmage in Sunday’s game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, he seemed to have a pretty good idea that a screen pass might be coming. He peeked over his left shoulder twice before the ball was snapped, then read the eyes of maligned New York quarterback Daniel Jones to perfection.

A few seconds later, Van Ginkel had the ball in his hands and was scampering into the end zone for a touchdown. That helped the Vikings put the final nail in the coffin of a 28-6 win over the New York Giants.

“It happened so fast,” safety Josh Metellus said. “I got off a block and the next thing I know I see him flying through the air. He pretty much landed in the end zone. I’m like, ‘Oh wow.’ ”

The incredible individual effort from Van Ginkel paved the way for pandemonium on the Vikings sideline.

It started with linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. mobbing Van Ginkel, followed by safety Cam Bynum, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. The camera panned to veteran edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who had his hands on his head in disbelief, then back to rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner, who widened his eyes and shouted, “Oh my god!” Even defensive coordinator Brian Flores rushed over to show Van Ginkel some love.

“I actually got warned by the official after the touchdown,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said with a laugh. “He came running over. I didn’t know what he was going to tell me. He said, ‘Hey, just a heads up. Most of the defensive staff was in the end zone.’”

Though he got on the headset and relayed the message, O’Connell couldn’t say too much. Not when he, too, was a part of the celebration.

As he reflected on the moment, veteran safety Harrison Smith highlighted how organic everything was in real time. There was no choreographed dance. Just pure unadulterated joy from the Vikings as a whole.

“There’s a lot that goes into this,” Smith said. “The feeling and respect and understanding of how many people it takes to be successful on game day is something we’re all pretty aware of. If everybody wants to celebrate, that’s even better. I think we’ll take a warning.”

The biggest thing that stood out to Flores when asked about the sequence was how much Van Ginkel’s teammates wanted to celebrate in the immediate aftermath.

“We tell them when they make a play, they should go out there and celebrate,” Flores said. “We see that on the field, and I hope when people watch us, they see a group that enjoys playing together.”

As for his personal reaction?

“I get excited too,” Flores said. “There’s nothing more enjoyable than watching our guys have success. That’s why we do this. Yeah, I was fired up, and I’m not ashamed to say that.”

In other words, if the defense scores another touchdown at some point this season, expect a similar type of scene in the end zone.

“Hopefully we don’t get penalized,” Flores said with a smile. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

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