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Politics & Government

Renton Airport Receives Sustainability Grant

The Renton Municipal airport has received a $150,000 federal grant to develop a sustainability plan.

The Renton Municipal airport recently received a $150,000 federal grant as part of being selected one of 10 airports in the country to participate in an airport sustainability master plan pilot program. The airport also generated 5 percent matching funds ($7,500) for the project that it generated from tenant fees. No city funds will be used as part of the program.

The airport is working with the consulting company, Bernard Dunkleberg during a year-long process to develop the sustainability management plan, which has yet to officially kick off.

During the process, the airport will work with its advisory committees and major stakeholder groups as the plan is being developed. As of press time, members of the Renton Airport Advisory Committee and the FAA were unable to comment.

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Airport sustainability encompasses a wide-range of practices for airports, including operations, design, energy consumption, design practices and planning.

Airports are “energy intensive places that have a lot of impact,” said Ryan Zulauf, airport manager. “We want to cut down on our environmental footprint, with things like power and gas and storm water runoff.”

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When writing for the grant money, the airport had to address how it would plan to address a number of  items as it develops the plan in the pilot project, including:

  • Reduced energy consumption
  • Reduced noise impact
  • Improved water quality
  • Financial savings
  • Lower greenhouse gas emission
  • Lower hazardous waste

The Renton airport, Zulauf said, is a financially healthy, self-supporting business within the City of Renton, but it also operates much like a nonprofit organization.

 “We always want it to be better, and being a part of this project will allow us to examine our current practices," he said.

There were 10 airports selected for the project, and they were categorized by airport size. Renton was classified as a “general aviation” airport, as was the Teterboro, GA airport. Other airports in the pilot program include: Newton City-County airport, Newport News/Williamsburg (small), Nashville International airport, Fresno Yosemite, South Bend Regional (Indiana), Denver International (large airport category).

Because sustainability plans rely heavily upon future airport usage and forecasting demands, that will play heavily into what the airport develops during this process.

“We want the Renton airport to meet the needs of the future,” Zulauf said.

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