Inspired by Earth Day 2014, the Newark Liberty International Airport became part of a new, 633 kilowatt multi-site initiative to reduce emissions and produce cleaner energy in the region. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey teamed up with ConEdison Solutions on April 24 to create one of the first solar power installation sat any of the Port Authority’s regional airports.
It’s expected that the airport will be supplied with around 817,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually by the 3,200 solar panel installations. According to Solar Daily, that amount is equivalent to powering 61 homes or conserving 53,000 gallons of gasoline. By placing these panels on the roof, the airport is utilizing space that otherwise goes unused as well as making the building more resilient. In addition to conserving electricity, the Newark airport will also save close to $60,000 in utility bills each year.
The Port Authority is also interested in educating others about the benefits of solar power. At Terminal B, Newark Liberty plans to install interactive kiosks to show visitors how much power has been generated by the solar panels that day, as well as information about the solar initiative. Michael W. Gibson, Vice President of ConEdison Solutions, praised the Port Authority’s commitment to sustainability saying, “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is setting an excellent example for airports nationwide and around the world.”
The other sites involved in this initiative include an AirTrain Newark maintenance building, a Port Authority maintenance building, and a multi-tenant cargo building, all of which will also be receiving solar panel installations.