U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood announces $3 million grant for Lovell Field/Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a $3 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for continued construction of a solar farm to provide power for Lovell Field/Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.

“This funding will help pay for energy-saving innovation at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport,” said Secretary LaHood. “Investing in sustainable infrastructure at our nation’s airports helps the environment and promotes economic growth.”

The FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant will fund the second part of a three-phase project. When the 4,000 panel solar farm is complete, it will yield three megawatts of electrical power that will provide one-third of the airport’s energy needs. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from this clean energy will be equivalent to taking 200 cars off Chattanooga’s roads each year.

Work will begin in October 2012 and take about four months to complete. The FAA funded the first phase with a $4 million grant last year.

“This is an important investment in both the city of Chattanooga and its airport,” said Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta “It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the Chattanooga area.”

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