With the FAA’s recent announcement of a $330,000 grant to Portland International Airport to buy six natural gas buses for passenger and employee transportation to parking and rental car lots, I thought it was a good time to remind readers of the availability of federal funds under this program. The VALE (Voluntary Airport Low Emissions) program is available to airport sponsors at commercial service airports that are located in so-called air quality non-attainment or maintenance areas. These are areas where the EPA has determined that air quality is poor, frequently located near large metropolitan areas. The program is intended to help improve air quality by reducing sources of ground emissions.
In addition to funding the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles for passenger and employee transportation, funds can also be used to acquire other low-emission vehicles – including electric GSE –and to install refueling and recharging stations to support low-emission vehicles. This can help replace old, polluting GSE with newer, more environmentally-friendly equipment and also make it easier to invest in clean technology if accessible refueling and recharging stations are installed. And that can be a win-win for clean-energy GSE manufacturers, GSE owners/operators, the airports, and of course, those of us who breathe the air at and around airports.
VALE uses existing FAA funding mechanisms – grants-in-aid to airports under the Airport Improvement Program and PFCs (Passenger Facility Charges) – to pay for eligible projects. Airports are very familiar with these processes, so, if anything, they may just need to be convinced to apply specifically for funding for VALE-eligible projects.
If you think your airport might be eligible for VALE funding, visit the FAA’s VALE website for a list of eligible airports and projects.
