Airport Experience News Fall 2022

SUS TA INABIL I T Y SNAP SHOT

power grid is actually our backup power, we’re the most resilient, site-hardened airport in the entire world. KRAL: Are you aware of any other airports exploring microgrids? I would imagine it’s important that it catches on at other airports in order for the industry as a whole to reach its sustainability goals. HOBACK: That’s a great point. We’re the city of bridges here in Pittsburgh and I look at it this way: The potential for an innovative idea like this microgrid to provide a bridge to a much more carbon friendly, climate change-focused future, and the ability for us to be able to show this as a shining example for the region that we live in for the industry that we serve, is great. We have a lot of very lofty goals that we’re trying to achieve as an industry over the next several decades, and we think that a project like this could be a great example for other airports to possibly try to do, especially ones that are

in the position that we are with our own resources right on site. There are a lot of things we’re discussing as an industry that could be amazing opportunities for us to be more sustainable 10, 15, or 20 years in the future—the microgrid is something shorter term that can be very efficient and productive, and has so many other benefits besides the sustainability side. It’s smart and it’s the right thing to do. KRAL: What other initiatives were you able to highlight during your testimony? HOBACK: There’s the increased number of electric vehicles that are utilized by our passengers and also our airline partners through their ground service equipment, so we’ve continued to add electric vehicle charging stations and work with our partners to make sure that we provide the infrastructure they need. And then even things as simple as water bottle filling stations throughout our terminal saving 300,000-plus plastic bottles a year.

Top, Above: In June 2021, Pittsburgh International Airport became the first U.S. airport to be powered entirely by its own microgrid. The 23-megawatt microgrid run offs of five natural gas-fired generators (top) and nearly 10,000 solar panels (above).

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