The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) said that the largest geothermal wellfield of any U.S. airport is now live and providing green energy to the airport’s Jerry E. Abramson Terminal.
This project, done with consulting engineering firm CMTA, is expected to save the airport $400,000 annually. It reduces the airport’s reliance on fossil fuels and significantly decreases greenhouse-gas emissions because geothermal energy is clean, reliable and renewable. The use of geothermal is also cost-effective over the long term since geothermal systems require less maintenance and last longer than traditional HVAC systems.
“This milestone is one I’m pleased to share with you today as it’s been more than two years in the making following our groundbreaking,” said Dan Mann, executive director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, operators of SDF. “Beyond the overall innovation of this project, it further confirms our commitment to providing best-in-class facilities for our passengers, while also being an industry leader in reducing carbon emissions and saving energy. This is a win-win any way you look at it.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $10.6 million to SDF as part of the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Grant Program.
