The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has unveiled a solar roof on the newly built parking garage at LaGuardia Airport, New York.
The installation includes over 3,500 solar panels, providing 1.34 megawatts of renewable energy to power the west side of the airport as part of the agency’s net zero emissions targets. The new solar energy project will reduce LaGuardia airport’s external energy consumption by 5 percent and offset nearly 400 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Kevin O’Toole, Chairman at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said:The Port Authority continues to look for ways to bring innovative technology to its facilities and here at LaGuardia Airport we are moving toward a greener future with the addition of thousands of new solar panels ready to power parts of the airport. We could not be more excited to see projects like this across the agency, creating cost savings while providing clean energy.
The new solar roof at LaGuardia Airport is the Port Authority’s largest solar project to date, joining six other Port Authority installations that produce more than 1.8 million kilowatt-hours of electrical energy annually. Additional projects are also in progress, including a new 4-megawatt solar canopy at Newark Liberty and a 12-megawatt solar parking canopy project at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said:Renewable energy sources must dominate our future, and the Port Authority is proud to unveil its newest solar installation at LaGuardia Airport as part of our commitment to being a leader in sustainability throughout the region. Today’s opening is only the leading edge of our agenda to shift to renewable energy sources across our facilities.
The installation was built in partnership with ForeFront Power. The Power Purchase Agreement enabled the Port Authority to develop the solar roof at LaGuardia Airport with no upfront costs. ForeFront Power will operate and maintain the system and will charge the airport a fixed, below-market rate for electricity, which is locked in for the agreement’s 20-year duration.
said Michael Smith, CEO of ForeFront Power said:We are proud to be ‘building the future’ with the LaGuardia Airport and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The visually stunning Terminal B is an inspiration. Seeing this beautiful new iteration of the airport helps one reimagine what is possible when combining modern, thoughtful architecture with a strong commitment to sustainability, including the 1.5-megawatt rooftop solar array that our team is proud to have built. Traveling through LaGuardia as a LEED-certified airport now powered by the sun does indeed feel like stepping the future.
