Albany International Airport Earns Recognition from ACI for Carbon Emissions Reduction

Nov. 11—ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany International Airport has earned accreditation from the Airports Council International (ACI) for its ongoing commitment to identifying and reducing carbon emissions.

According to a press release, the ACI's Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program uses independent assessment and verification processes to recognize airports around the globe that are making efforts to manage and reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Albany International Airport has received the Level 1 accreditation of "MAPPING" for its assessment of its carbon footprint — a critical first step in successful emission reduction, with an eventual goal of elimination carbon emissions from the airport's operations.

Only a select group of airports have achieved ACA accreditation from ACI to date. Albany International Airport is one of just 72 airports in North America to receive this certification.

The ACA program encourages airports to reduce their emissions by building efficiency technologies, making investments in alternative fuels, and engaging in mitigation outreach with tenants. ACA is the only institutionally endorsed, global carbon management airport certification program. There are six levels of ACA certification: Mapping, Reduction, Optimization, Neutrality, Transformations and Transition.

"Today's announcement underscores Albany International Airport's ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint in recognition of the important role our industry must play in combatting climate change," said Albany International Airport CEO Phil Calderone in the release. "We also realize we cannot do this important work alone, and are partnering with CHA Consultants, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, General Electric Research and Development, 4Air, Epic Fuels and Plug Power to achieve our ambitious — much reachable — carbon neutral goal.

"The airport is engaged in projects with our partners to examine the use of solar power, hydrogen power, sustainable aviation fuel, the use of methane gas, — a by-product of the airport's award-winning glycol recovery system — and the development of geo-thermal energy," Calderone continued in the release. "We look forward to implementing additional best practices to advance our ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation to the next level."

Airport carbon emissions are primarily the result of gasoline and diesel-powered trucks, buses and ground transportation equipment, stationary emergency power generators, electricity use and heating airport facilities, water and waste management and aircraft activity. Albany International Airport has initiated a variety of projects and policies to reduce its carbon footprint with more to come as part of the ongoing terminal expansion project.

Some of these initiatives include:

—LED runway and taxi lighting Electric ground support equipment

—Installation of 154 solar panels Green spaces expansion and gardens

—Solar reflective roofing LED street and high mast lighting

—CNG dedicated buses and trucks EV charging stations

—Glycol storm water treatment LED terminal and hangar lighting

—Hydrogen Power Solar Power

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