Tucson International (TUS) and Ryan Airfield are the first airports in Arizona to offer solar development incentives as a consequence of the state’s new improvement district bill, HB 2298.
On March 20, the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a new Renewable Energy Incentive District, with several pieces of land throughout the Tucson metro area being deemed suitable for large-scale solar development and putting incentives in place, including expedited permit processing and fee waivers.
The Tucson Airport Authority worked with the county during the drafting of the new zoning ordinance to determine whether areas surrounding the two airports fell under REID criteria; the result was that both properties were entirely included.
“This district provides yet another tool to assist in our efforts to attract large-scale renewable development in and around the airport,” says Mary Davis, senior director of business development and marketing for TAA.
The designation is also compatible with the authority’s sustainability policy, which it adopted in 2010 to formalize its dedication to a sustainable future. Highlights include the city’s first publicly accessible compressed natural gas fueling facility and use of an on-site photovoltaic solar panel array that helps power the parking lot payment building.
“Inclusion of both airports in the REID zoning overlay is a major step in continuing TAA’s commitment to environmental sustainability,” Jordan Feld, TAA’s director of planning.
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