Rep. Peters, Airport Authority Announce Grants Totaling $22 million

SAN DIEGO, CA – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded more than $22 million in competitive grants to San Diego International Airport. The grants are to be used for reducing aircraft emissions, improving ramp drainage, and continuing area residential noise mitigation projects.

“I am proud to join with the Airport Authority in announcing these grants,” Congressman Peters said. “San Diego International Airport has long been at the center of our city’s regional economy and image. These grants will make a real difference in neighboring communities and in the effort to have a facility that is both efficient and environmentally responsible. Further, the grants will continue the ongoing work, some of which we’re already enjoying in the Green Build, to make SAN into the world-class facility that our city can be proud of.”

“These grant monies will allow the airport to continue with its sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing the airport’s carbon footprint,” said Thella F. Bowens, President/CEO of the Airport Authority. “With these grants we will reduce noise impacts, decrease emissions, and improve our airfield efficiencies. We thank the FAA and Scott Peters for their continued support of our San Diego International Airport.”

The grant awards are as follows:

$11,372,400: Residential noise mitigation in affected area homes. The grant will allow the airport to continue its Quieter Home Program, one of the largest remaining airport residential sound insulation programs in the country. More than 2,600 neighborhood residences have been attenuated since the program’s inception. 

$3,109,162: Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) program grant to reduce ground emissions while aircraft are on the airfield. The grant will provide federal funds to purchase pre-conditioned air units for 18 aircraft boarding gates. This project will eliminate the need for aircraft to use their engines while at the gate, lowering emissions, reducing fuel usage and improving air quality. 

$7,825,881: Improving airfield drainage systems. This grant will help the Airport Authority install a drainage system on the north side of the airfield, benefiting extensive future development in that area including the proposed Rental Car Center and additional projects.

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