DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Voluntary Airport Low Emissions grant for the San Antonio International Airport
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application and the acceptance of grant funds for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Voluntary Airport Low Emissions grant in an amount up to $3,200,000.00 for the Electrification of Ground Support Equipment For Emissions Reduction project. The total project is an anticipated $4,266,667.00 with the City's share of $1,066,667.00 funded from Airport Improvement and Contingency Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Airport System had identified a project to install electric charging stations at SAT with the commitment from the various airlines to replace the petroleum-based ground support equipment (GSE) with electric ground support equipment (eGSE). The installation of electric chargers and the conversion to eGSE by the airlines will significantly reduce ozone precursors consisting of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds as well as other criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases.
The FAA has the VALE program to offset the costs of emission reduction improvements for airports in areas that the US Environmental Protection Agency has designated as marginal non-attainment with the 2015 ozone standards. On July 18, 2018, Bexar County met this designation. In order to take advantage of the VALE grant funding, the Aviation CIP will be amended to move this project forward from FY 2022 and FY 2023, as currently planned, in order to apply for this grant.
ISSUE:
The Ordinance authorizing the submission of a grant application and the acceptance of grant funds for a FAA Voluntary Airport Low Emissions grant in an amount up to $3,200,000.00 for the Electrification of Ground Support Equipment For Emissions Reduction project. The total project is an anticipated $4,266,667.00 with the City's share of $1,066,667.00 funded from Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose to not approve this item. However, this action would mean the City would not be eligible for the federal grant award to support these projects at San Antonio International Airport. In addition, the failure to accept could potentially affect the City's ability to receive future FAA grant funding for additional safety, development, and expansion projects.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total anticipated cost for Electrification of Ground Support Equipment For Emissions Reduction project is $4,266,667.00 and includes funding in the amount of up to $3,200,000.00 from the FAA VALE grant program and in the amount of up to $1,066,667.00 for the City’s share from Airport Improvement and Contingency Funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of the submission of a grant application and the acceptance of grant funds for a FAA Voluntary Airport Low Emissions grant at the San Antonio International Airport.