Airport Installs Final 8 Energy-Conserving and Emission-Reducing Units
Oakland, California – November 7, 2014 – Oakland International Airport (OAK) used a $2.7 million Voluntary Airport Low Emission (VALE) grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to install new pre-conditioned air units at 8 airline gates in Terminal 1.
The new pre-conditioned air units (PC Air) conserve fuel and reduce emissions by allowing aircraft to “plug in” and use electricity to regulate the temperature in the aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge instead of using the aircraft’s jet-fueled auxiliary power units and/or external diesel-fueled ground power units. With the completion of this project, 100% of the airline gates at OAK have the ability for aircraft to “plug in” and conserve fuel and reduce emissions. Over the next 13 years of useful life, the 8 new PC Air units are estimated to reduce ozone precursors by 58.8 tons, carbon monoxide emissions by 46.6 tons, and particulate matter (PM 2.5) by 6.2 tons.
Deborah Ale Flint, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland said, “Oakland International Airport is a demonstrated leader investing in infrastructure that reduces air emissions and serves our tenants, our customers and the public. The new PC Air units are part of ongoing efforts with the Airlines and other partners to reduce emissions at OAK. Other ongoing measures include adding CNG fueling stations, providing Electric Vehicle charging stations, and promoting electrification of ground support equipment. We appreciate the FAA’s financial and staff support for the PC Air project.”