Airport Alert: Airport Energy Resiliency and Renewable Energy Act Introduced in the Senate

Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced legislation that would help airports leverage renewable energy systems to capture and store renewable energy, enhance the efficiency of their power sources, improve energy resiliency and lower emissions. 

The Airport Energy Resiliency and Renewable Energy Act would create a five-year, $125 million grant program to fund the installation of new renewable energy resources like solar panels, battery storage systems and microgrids. The maximum Federal share for this grant program would be 90 percent. 

The bill comes as airports nationwide have looked for ways to reduce their carbon footprints and achieve self-sufficiency while also providing power to their communities. According to a 2020 study conducted by the University of Colorado, 20% of public airports have adopted solar panels in some capacity over the last decade, converting their unused land, roofs and parking garages into solar farms. Additionally, a number of airports have turned to microgrids to avoid power disruptions and discover energy savings. Last year, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) became the first airport in the world to be completely powered independently by a microgrid using natural gas and solar power created exclusively on its own property.