The US government has earmarked almost US$92 million to support sustainability projects across the country's airports in a bid to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) said as part of nearly US$268 million in grants, about US$92 million will go to 21 airports for solar panels, electric buses, charging stations and electrification studies; investments that support good-paying jobs and their local communities.

As part of this sustainability effort, the agency is also providing funding to help general aviation airports safely transition to unleaded fuel for piston-engine aircraft.

"We need to help airports transition their operations as quickly as possible to renewable power. Our investments keep us on track for the net-zero goal," said Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E., associate administrator for airports. 

Of today's funding, US FAA said US$46.8 million would go to key sustainability projects, including energy-saving solar power equipment and infrastructure: US$22.58 million to Indianapolis International Airport to construct energy-efficient infrastructure and install solar panels; US$20 million to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona to design and construct solar parking structures.

Allocations for solar panels were also awarded to El Paso International Airport, Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, La Porte Municipal Airport, Centerville Municipal Airport, and Decorah Municipal Airport.

An additional US$44.5 million has also been awarded to airports to plan for and purchase electric vehicles and electric transportation infrastructure, including in Portland International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, McGhee Tyson Airport, and Kansas City International Airport.

San Diego International Airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport, and Bert Mooney Airport in Butte were also awarded funds for the purchase of e-vehicles.

The US FAA said to safely eliminate leaded aviation fuels in piston-engine aircraft by the end of 2030; it also awarded a grant to Prescott Regional Airport.

In its Aviation Climate Action Plan, the US set a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector by 2050.

To help to achieve this goal, the FAA has awarded US$100 million to research and scale fuel-saving technologies and noise reductions; US$327 million to electrify airport gate equipment and vehicles; and US$35 million to universities to help build sustainable aviation fuel supply chains and develop new software capability to reduce fuel burn and taxi time.