NATCHEZ — News that Rentech will supply fuels to eight airlines for ground service in Los Angeles bodes well for Adams County, local Economic Development Authority Board Chairman Woody Allen said Tuesday.

Rentech announced Tuesday it signed a multi-year agreement to supply Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways with up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic.

The deal begins in 2012.

Though the fuel for the deal will be produced at Rentech’s Rialto Renewable Energy Center in Rialto, Calif., the deal could pave the way for future Rentech projects and help the planned Adams County facility in the long run, Allen said.

Rentech is currently planning to build a $4.5 billion coal-to-liquid plant in Adams County that would be capable of making jet fuel.

Tuesday’s airline agreement is the first of its kind to supply renewable synthetic fuels to multiple domestic airlines. The renewable RenDiesel(r) fuel to be supplied to the airlines would be produced from green waste.

“This commercial purchase contract among Rentech, (Aircraft Service International Group) and the airlines validates the growing demand for synthetic fuels produced by the Rentech Process,” said D. Hunt Ramsbottom, president and chief executive officer of Rentech.