FAA awards $2.5 million to Ontario International Airport for carbon reduction efforts

Credit: Ontario International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it has granted Ontario International Airport (ONT) $2.5 million to support its environmental sustainability efforts. This funding is part of the FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low-Emission (VALE) Program, aimed at reducing airports’ carbon footprints.

ONT will use the grant to replace 22 Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) units, which manage temperatures and humidity in parked aircraft. By connecting these units to the airport’s electrical grid, the need for jet fuel-powered auxiliary units is eliminated, significantly cutting emissions. This grant follows a separate $4 million FAA award earlier in September for ONT’s runway rehabilitation initiative.

Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners, said: “We are deeply appreciative to the FAA and to Congresswoman Norma Torres, who has played such a critical role in securing funding for ONT as we meet the needs of this dynamic region we serve. The VALE Program funding will allow us to replace older PCA units with state-of-the-art, high energy-efficient models that reduce emissions and improve air quality.”

Ontario International Airport, which returned to local control in 2016, has invested in various sustainability projects, including zero-emission shuttle buses and recycling construction materials. ONT is on track to surpass seven million passengers throughout 2024, a 75% increase since 2016, and is ranked among the top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.