Ontario International Airport secures largest-ever VALE grant

Ontario International Airport (ONT) has secured almost $4.15 million from the US Federal Aviation Administration to invest in its clean-energy infrastructure. The grant will cover 75 per cent of the cost of installing electric ground support equipment charging infrastructure at Terminals 2 and 4.

The award is ONT’s third and largest federal Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) grant in three years, following earlier VALE grants which supported ground power unit and pre-conditioned air projects at the airport. Together, the projects are intended to reduce the need for aircraft and ground equipment to burn fuel while parked at the terminal. The grant represents the federal government’s full 75 per cent share of eGSE charger project.

In a press release, the California airport stated that the $1.14 m grant will be used to support the increasing adoption of electric-powered equipment by airlines and airport partners to service aircraft on the ground, stating that it aims to reduce “reliance on conventional fuel-powered equipment”.

The FAA’s VALE programme provides funding to commercial service airports for eligible projects designed to reduce airport emissions. A competitive procurement process also producec a bid below the airport’s original project estimate, reducing the remaining financial commitment required from the airport.

Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority, said: “This latest investment by the FAA is a tremendous vote of confidence in the work we are doing to build a more sustainable Ontario International Airport. Three VALE grants in three years represents meaningful progress, and this latest award will allow us and our airline partners to continue reducing emissions while investing in the infrastructure ONT will need for the future.”