May 14, 2010

LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON AIRPORT AUTHORITY RECEIVES $700,000 GRANT FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECRETARY, JOHN HANGER

Lehigh Valley, PA – This morning, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA) received some significant help from the state as part of its “Clean Technology” initiative.  John Hanger, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, presented the Authority with a check for $700,000.  The money will come from the Alternative Fuel Transportation Grant.  The Grant will allow LNAA to purchase eight Preconditioned Air (PCA) units, eight electric ground support equipment (eGSE), as well as the purchase and installation of three eGSE rechargers required to support the new eGSE.  Six new hybrid vehicles will also be purchased to replace old fleet vehicles.  Emissions reductions will be achieved by avoiding the use of auxiliary power units (APUs) currently providing temperate air to aircraft at passenger boarding bridges; replacing old conventionally-powered GSE with new zero-emissions eGSE; and replacing old conventionally-powered on-road vehicles with new hybrid vehicles.

The Program’s primary focus is the air quality benefit of reduced emissions at Lehigh Valley International Airport. “By reducing airport emissions through the electrification program, we are working to do our part to help move Lehigh County into an improved category as a “maintenance area” for National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone”, commented David C. Haines, Chairman for the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority.  The Project also estimates that fuel consumption will be reduced by 65,665 gallons utilized at LVIA alone.  In fact, this will allow an annual fuel savings of $164,163 for the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. 

 Lehigh Valley International Airport is located near Allentown, Pennsylvania and is served by Air Canada, Allegiant Air, AirTran, American Eagle, Continental, Delta, United and US Airways. LVIA serves a twelve county area with a population base of 3.6 million people.  The Airport is easily accessible from communities in eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey areas. The airport is entirely funded by user fees; no property tax dollars are used for the airport’s capital improvements or for its day-to-day operation. For more information on LVIA, visit www.lvia.org.