Photo Courtesy of the Port Authority
JetBlue operates Terminal 5 at JFK Airport.
By Forum Staff
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a nearly $4 million grant for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to reduce emissions at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in partnership with JetBlue Airways Corporation and the New York Power Authority, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced recently.
The Voluntary Airport Low Emissions from the FAA Grant will be used for the installation of 38 charging stations at Terminal 5 at JFK. These stations will enable the electrification of 116 baggage tugs and belt loaders at Terminal 5, which is operated by JetBlue.
The funding is the first VALE grant awarded to a Port Authority airport, Cuomo noted last week. The charging stations at Terminal 5 will house 120 chargers to support the conversion of the vehicles from gas and diesel to electric. The FAA grant accounts for 75 percent of the total $5.3 million cost of the project.
“This funding will help reduce emissions and support energy efficiency at JFK, bolstering our efforts to transform JFK into a true 21st century gateway for this great state,” Cuomo said. “Across New York, we are making strategic investments to support green technology, fight climate change, and create a cleaner, greener and healthier future for all.”
According to the administration, JetBlue is providing most of the balance of the cost, agreeing to purchase the 116 vehicles over the scheduled four-year implementation period. In addition to the FAA grant, the Port Authority is receiving significant technical and financial assistance from NYPA, which will be delivering the project and providing an additional $200,000 grant.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said the agency “is committed to best practices in reducing its carbon footprint at our airports and other facilities. Electric vehicles are a critically important way to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases. We welcome JetBlue’s participation in the program at Kennedy Airport, and we look forward to working with other agency partners on green initiatives throughout the region.”
