Two Washington Airports Aim to Go Carbon Neutral

1 July 2009

Reagan National and Dulles International airports in the US state of Washington are to install solar panels and plug-in vehicle charging stations to help them become carbon neutral.

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) has issued requests for expressions of interest for the solar projects to cap their greenhouse gas emissions, the Washington Business Journal reports.

The project will start on a small scale and will eventually cover more than ten acres at Dulles and three acres at Reagan airport.

The project aims to test solar-panel feasibility in the airports as well as to show the airports’ willingness to rely on solar power, according to the MWAA.

The vehicle plug-in project will feature pole-mounted, wall-mounted or free-standing charging stations in existing parking areas to charge electric cars.

The project is expected to be complete by mid-2010.

The airports will charge for the use of electrical panels, going against previous schemes which have offered them for free.