Seattle Airport goes electric to cut emissions
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) has unveiled a new initiative designed to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The new ‘eGSE’ project, which is being undertaken in partnership with Alaska Airlines, will convert all vehicles operating on the airfield from fossil fuels to electric power. To power these vehicles, nearly 600 electric charging stations will be set up throughout the airport, to power baggage tugs, bag ramps and pushback vehicles.
The airport believes the electrical scheme will save 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of taking 1,900 cars off the road.
“The eGSE project here at Sea-Tac should serve as an example of how energy efficiency is not only good for the environment, but is also a smart financial investment,” said US congressman, Adam Smith. “We must continue to invest in alternative energy technologies that protect consumers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strike a balance between moving away from our dependence on fossil fuels while mitigating the economic impact of that transition.”
This first phase of the project will provide 296 charging locations in concourses D, C, and the north satellite. The second phase will cover the rest of the terminal at concourse A, B, and the south satellite for a total of 576 charging locations by September 2014.
Alaska Airlines already has 204 electric vehicles in operation on the ground at Sea-Tac. As many as 650 vehicles could eventually be covered by the electric technology. The move to electric vehicles is expected to save the airline up to US$300,000 per year in fuel costs.
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