Awards On Top Of 'Sustainability' Grants Handed Out Last Week

How can you tell that it's near the end of September? Government agencies announce lots of monetary grants and awards, and the skeptics among Washington's observer class would say it’s so that they can receive the same amount or more in the following fiscal year's budget. A "use it or lose it" mentality.

Well, October 1 is just around the corner and with it the start of the FY2014 fiscal year. And the FAA announced Tuesday that it would be awarding $17 million in grants to eight airports around the country to reduce the use of conventional fuels and improve air quality. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx said the funds “will help airports around the country make the necessary investments that will reduce fuel costs and help protect the environment.”

The grants, awarded through the FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) program, will enable the airports to purchase equipment that will allow aircraft to shut off their auxiliary power units while parked at the gate and instead connect to a cleaner central heating and cooling system, saving fuel and reducing emissions. The funds come from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

“The FAA encourages airlines and airports to find creative ways to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We applaud these airports for their efforts to make their facilities environmentally friendly members of the community.”

The FAA says that through VALE, airports are reducing ozone emissions by approximately 370 tons per year, which is equivalent to removing 20,604 cars and trucks off the road annually.

The airports that received VALE grants include:

• Albuquerque International Sunport, $464,000 – The project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install charging units for ground support equipment.
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, $45,000 – The project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to convert diesel-fueled vehicles to compressed natural gas.
• Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (Alabama) International Airport, $2,847,790 – The project will help improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install efficient electric air handling equipment such as air conditioning and heating units in the terminal.
• Boston General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, $2,000,000 – The project will provide funding to purchase and install low-emission airport equipment, such as pre-conditioned air units and associated systems, to improve air quality in the area.
• Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, $2,179,006 – This project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install low-emission airport equipment, such as pre-conditioned air units and associated equipment.
• San Diego International Airport, $3,109,162 – This project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install low-emission airport equipment, such as pre-conditioned air units and associated equipment.
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, $3,547,527 – The project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install low-emission airport equipment, such as pre-conditioned air units and associated equipment.
• Syracuse Hancock International Airport, $2,885,400 – The project will improve air quality in the area by providing funding to purchase and install low-emission airport equipment, such as pre-conditioned air units and associated systems.

VALE is designed to reduce all sources of airport ground emissions in areas of poor air quality. The FAA created the program in 2004 to help airport sponsors meet their air quality responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. Through VALE, airport sponsors can use AIP funds and passenger facility charges to acquire low-emission vehicles, refueling and recharging stations, gate electrification, and other airport air quality improvements.

Since 2005, the FAA has funded 56 VALE projects at 33 airports, which represents a total investment of $161 million in clean airport technology. That amount includes $129 million in federal grants and $32 million in local airport matching funds.

AIP provides $3.35 billion in annual funding for projects that are vital to maintaining the safety, capacity, and environmental stewardship of our nation’s airports. More than 3,300 airports are eligible for AIP grants benefiting commercial passengers, cargo operations, and general aviation activities throughout the nation.

FMI: www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/vale