Airports across the country are more sustainable thanks to funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. As part of nearly $268 million in grants, about $92 million will go to 21 airports for solar panels, electric buses, charging stations and electrification studies; investments that support good-paying jobs and their local communities. Also, as a part of this sustainability effort, the agency is providing funding to help general aviation airports safely transition to unleaded fuel for piston-engine aircraft.
“We need to help airports transition their operations as quickly as possible to renewable power. Our investments keeps us on track for the net-zero goal,” said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., Associate Administrator for Airports.
Solar Power
Of today’s funding $46.8 million will go to key sustainability projects, including energy saving solar power equipment and infrastructure:
- $22.58 million to Indianapolis International Airport in Indiana to construct energy efficient infrastructure and install solar panels.
- $20 million to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona to design and construct solar parking structures.
- $3 million to El Paso International Airport in Texas to install solar panels.
- $600,000 to Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington to install solar panels.
- $333,450 to La Porte Municipal Airport in Indiana to install solar panels.
- $150,000 to Centerville Municipal Airport in Iowa to install solar panels.
- $150,000 Decorah Municipal Airport in Iowa to install solar panels.
Electrification
An additional $44.5 million has been awarded to airports to plan for and purchase electric vehicles and electric transportation infrastructure:
- $16 million to Portland International Airport in Oregon to construct zero emissions vehicle infrastructure.
- $4.8 million to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to purchase electric buses and charging stations.
- $3.4 million to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina to purchase zero emissions vehicles and charging stations.
- $3.2 million to Sacramento International Airport in California to purchase electric buses.
- $3.1 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah to purchase electric buses and charging stations.
- $5.1 million to San Francisco International Airport in California to purchase electric buses and charging stations.
- $3 million to Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania to purchase zero emissions vehicles and associated infrastructure.
- $2 million to McGhee Tyson Airport in Tennessee to purchase zero emissions vehicles and charging stations.
- $1.5 million to Kansas City International Airport in Missouri to purchase electric buses.
- $1.1 million to San Diego International Airport in California to construct electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- $300,000 to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan to purchase zero emissions vehicles and charging stations.
- $590,000 to Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock to purchase electric buses with chargers.
- $154,000 to Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Montana to purchase electric vehicles with chargers.
Unleaded Fuel
To safely eliminate leaded aviation fuels in piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030, Prescott Regional Airport in Arizona will receive $243,000 to develop a plan to safely transition to unleaded fuel.
