Bye Energy is a step closer to making cellulose-based fuel for aircraft.

The Highlands Ranch-founded aircraft and aviation fuel company is working toward several alternative fueling options for pilots.

The board of directors for Front Range Airport, about 30 miles east of Aurora, voted to sign a memorandum of understanding that opens the door to a pilot program to produce fuel from what is basically “field trash,” the parts of a plant left after harvesting, and beetle-killed pine trees.

Front Range Airport sits on 3,900 acres, with a bit more than half planted in wheat by tenant farmers. Airport officials see a closed loop with the test program.

“We just completed a wastewater treatment plant with reuse capabilities,” said Dennis Heap, director of aviation at Front Range. “That water isn’t for human use, but I see us using the water we use on the airport and reusing that water on crops that become fuel for airplanes.”

The project hinges on a grant from the Department of Energy, and the company could hear the results within 60 days.