The list provided below identifies those airports in the United States that have installed a minimum of 0.5 megawatt (0.5 MW = to 500 kW) of solar arrays/farms on their property. While the list may seem long, it is but a fraction of the airports in the United States. States leading the way with the most examples are:
- California = 11
- Arizona = 5
- Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York = 4 each
- Indiana = 3
Given the amount of open space available at many airports, as well as the extent of rooftops and parking lots/garages where solar infrastructure could be installed, airports are an underutilized option. The airports listed should be commended for being leaders and its hoped they will serve as catalysts for more airports to follow.
As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions are most welcome.
Albuquerque, NM – International Sunport = 1.0 MW on parking garage roofs (2009-2011)
Augusta, ME – State Airport = 17.5 MW solar farm on 18.4 acres (planned)
Austin, TX – Bergstom International Airport = 4.3 MW as solar carports and parking garage roof (2021)
Baghdad, AZ: Airport = 15.5 MW solar farm (2011)
Bakersfield, CA: Meadows Field = 0.9 MW solar farm (2009)
Baltimore, MD: International Airport = 0.5 MW on parking garage roof
Barnstable, MA: Municipal Airport = 6.0 MW solar farm on 18.8 acres (2014)
Beverly, MA: Airport = 2.6 MW solar farm on 9.5 acres (2014)
Boston, MA: Logan International Airport = 0.9 MW on roofs (2010-2014)
Brookhaven, NY: Calabro Airport = 1.8 MW solar farm (2019)
Burlington, VT: International Airport = 2.0 MW solar farm and parking garage roof (2014/2015)
Charleston, WV: Yeager Airport on parking garage roof (2019)
Chattanooga, TN: Metropolitan Airport = 2.7 MW solar farm on 12 acres (2011/2013/2019)
Columbia, SC: Metropolitan Airport = 1.4 MW solar farm (2017)
Denver, CO: International Airport = 28.5 MW solar farm on 56 acres and on Hertz roof (2018-2014/2022)
El Paso, TX: International Airport = 5.0 MW solar farm on 40 acres (proposed)
Escanaba, MI: Delta County Airport = 1.2 MW solar farm (2018)
Evansville, IN: Regional Airport = 1.3 MW solar carports over 387 parking spaces (2020)
Fort Wayne, IN: International Airport = 0.66 MW rental parking solar carports (2020)
Fresno, CA: Yosemite International Airport = 4.2 MW solar farm on 9.5 acres (2008)
Glenwood Springs, CO: Garfield County Airport = 0.9 MW solar farm (2011)
Honolulu, HI: International Airport = 5.3 MW as parking garage roof solar carports and on terminal roof (2019)
Indianapolis, IN: International Airport = 25.0 MW solar farm on 183 acres (2013/2015)
Kansas City, MO: International Airport = 300.0 MW solar farm on 2,000 acres (planned)
Lakeland, FL: Linder International Airport = 6.0 MW solar farm on 45 acres (2012)
Lakeview, OR: Lake County Airport = 47 MW solar farm on 315 acres (2019)
Las Cruces, NM: International Airport = 12.0 MW solar farm on 140 acres (2012)
Madison, WI: Dane County Regional Airport = 9.0 MW solar farm on 58 acres (2020)
Manchester, NH: Regional Airport = 0.5 MW on parking garage roof (2012)
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: International Airport = 3.0 MW on parking garage roof (2015)
Monterey, CA: Regional Airport = 1.5 MW solar farm on 3 acres (2017)
Murphysboro, IL: Southern Illinois Airport = solar farm on 13 acres (2021)
Myrtle Beach, SC: International Airport = 2.0 MW solar farm on 14 acres (2020)
Newark, NJ: Liberty International Airport = 4.6 MW on roofs (2012/2014)
New York City, NY: Kennedy International Airport = 12.3 MW as solar carports (2022)
New York City, NY: La Guardia Airport = 1.3 MW on parking garage roof (2022)
Oakland, CA: International Airport = 1.7 MW solar farm on 3.7 acres and roof (2005/2007)
Phoenix, AZ: Sky Harbor International Airport = 17.8 MW on roofs (2012)
Pierre, SD: Regional Airport = 1.0 MW solar farm on 8.9 acres (2016)
Pittsburgh, PA: International Airport = 20.0 MW solar farm on 8 acres (2021)
Poughkeepsie, NY: Dutchess County Airport = 2.5 MW solar farm (2015)
Prescott, AZ: Love Field = 3.6 MW solar farm (2005)
Quad Cities, IL/IA: International Airport = 1.9 MW solar carports over 200 spaces and on the terminal roof (2021)
Quincy, IL: Regional Airport = 0.52 MW solar farm (2022)
Redding, CA: Municipal Airport = 0.7 MW solar farm on 3 acres (2010)
Rockford, IL: Chicago/Rockford International Airport = 3.0 MW solar farm on 70 acres (2012)
Roxboro, NC: Person County Airport = 3.0 MW solar farm (2012)
Sacramento, CA: International Airport = 7.9 MW solar farm on 20 acres (2017)
San Bernardino, CA: International Airport = 0.6 MW on terminal roof (2011)
San Diego, CA: Lindbergh International Airport = 0.6 MW on terminal roof (2015)
Sanford, ME: Seacoast Regional Airport = 50 MW solar farm on 390 acres (2020)
San Francisco, CA: International Airport = 0.5 MW on roofs (2001/2007)
San Jose, CA: Mineta International Airport = 1.1 MW on rental car roofs (2010)
San Rafael, CA: Airport = 1.0 MW on hangar roofs (2012)
Santa Rosa, CA: Schultz/Sonoma County Airport = 0.9 MW as solar carports (2022)
Shelby, NC: Shelby County Airport = 1.0 MW solar farm (2010)
St. Louis, MO: Lambert International Airport = 1.0 MW solar farm on 3 acres (2019)
Smyrna, TN: Airport = 1.0 MW solar farm (2012)
Tallahassee, FL: International Airport = 60 MW between two solar farms on 360 acres
Tampa, FL: International Airport = 2.0 MW parking garage roof solar carports (2016)
Teterboro, NJ: Airport = 0.7 MW on hangar roofs (2011)
Traverse City, MI: Cherry Capital Airport = planned
Tucson, AZ: International Airport= 2.5 MW as parking carports on 12 acres (2013)
Washington, DC/VA: Dulles International Airport = 2.0 MW solar carports (2023)
Worcester, MA: Regional Airport = 10 MW ground and roof solar (2024)
Yuma, AZ: = 0.5 MW as solar carports (2010)
SOURCES:
- https://www.afar.com/magazine/this-is-the-first-us-airport-to-be-fully-solar-powered
- https://www.chattairport.com/solar-farm
- https://indsolarfarm.com
- https://indsolarfarm.com/surrounding-solar-airports/
- https://solartribune.com/solar-power-takes-off-at-u-s-airports/
- https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-10-31/kansas-city-wants-to-build-a-2-000-acre-solar-farm-at-the-kci-airport
- https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/22139/chapter/11
- https://archive.redding.com/news/redding-airport-will-go-solar-ep-376074699-355021951.html/
- https://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/chicago-rockford-airport-to-install-largest-airport-solar-project-121611
- https://www.porttechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PT41-02.pdf
- https://www.capecod.com/newscenter/large-solar-field-construction-hyannis-airport/
- https://solarbuildermag.com/news/new-mexico-airport-dedicates-12-mw-solar-energy-array/
- https://www.kleinfelder.com/project/lakeland-electric-solar/
- https://airport-world.com/austin-bergstrom-unveils-new-solar-panel-array/
- https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2020-press-releases/new-york-states-largest-solar-power-canopy-storage-system-at-jfk.html
- https://sunspearenergy.com/portfolio-items/honolulu-airport/
- https://flypittsburgh.com/acaa-corporate/newsroom/news-releases/pittsburgh-international-airport-goes-live-with-first-of-its-kind-microgrid-powering-entire-facility-with-natural-gas-and-solar-energy/
- https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/10/04/greenbacker-adds-two-denver-airport-solar-projects-to-its-portfolio/
- https://www.mge.com/newsroom/news-releases/articles/solar-project-airport-now-delivering-clean-energy
- https://www.borregoenergy.com/solar-project-portfolio/sacramento-airport-solar-project
- https://sacramento.aero/scas/about/news-and-events/airport-celebrates-new-solar-facility-that-will-provide-more-than-30-of-ele
- https://montereyairport.specialdistrict.org/solar-array-project
- https://www.montereyherald.com/2017/09/19/monterey-regional-airport-celebrates-completion-of-its-solar-project/
- https://www.tampaelectric.com/globalassets/files/powergeneration/tiafactsheet.pdf
- https://www.tampaairport.com/tampa-electric-opens-its-largest-solar-project-tampa-international-airport
- https://www.whig.com/news/local/quincy-regional-airport-breaks-ground-on-solar-project/article_79cf95aa-c27a-11ec-931e-37a7c8a50176.html
- https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/charles-m-schulz-sonoma-county-airport-reaches-for-the-sun/
- https://wtop.com/virginia/2022/03/dominions-solar-project-at-dulles-international-airport-takes-step-forward/
- https://fwairport.com/news/fort-wayne-international-airport-completes-rental-car-return-lot-canopy-exp
- https://airportindustry-news.com/solar-roof-unveiled-at-laguardia-airport/
- https://www.kare11.com/article/tech/msp-international-airport-builds-a-solar-array/89-10571795
- https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/10/13/solar-parking-canopy-airport-complete-largest-midwest/3638799001/
- https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/over-6600-solar-panels-added-to-austin-airport-parking-garage/
- https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/energy/72389/
- https://yeagerairport.com/yeager-airport-to-begin-installation-of-solar-panels/
- https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Executive/37363.htm
- https://www.talgov.com/you/solar
- https://www.sastructural.com/portfolio/tucson-international-airport-solar-canopy/
- https://flyevv.com/about-evansville-regional-airport/news/evv-completes-construction-on-largest-solar-covered-airport-parking-canopy-in-the-midwest
- https://www.qcairport.com/news/quad-cities-international-airport-celebrates-installation-of-4500-solar-panels/
- https://www.wsiltv.com/news/education/airport-expansion-project-opens-more-doors-for-siu-aviation-students/article_24932ea7-940b-5b71-80e7-1a071083b679.html
- https://www.sanfordmaine.org/vertical/sites/%7B9A3D3C8D-76EE-4CC5-B86E-C19FDBF5E473%7D/uploads/Sanford_Airport_Solar_news_release.pdf
- https://www.power-technology.com/marketdata/sanford-airport-solar-project-us/
- https://beverlyma.gov/739/Solar-at-Beverly-Airport
- https://www.power-technology.com/marketdata/worcester-regional-airport-solar-pv-park-us/
- https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/08/azimuth-energy-completes-1-mw-community-solar-project-at-st-louis-international-airport/
- https://www.dailypress.net/uncategorized/2018/07/work-progressing-on-solar-energy-site/
- https://agilitasenergy.com/portfolio/calabro-airport-north/
- https://www.obsidianrenewables.com/airport-solar.html
- https://www.santeecooper.com/news/2020/012820-Myrtle-Beachs-First-Utility-Scale-Solar-Farm.aspx
- https://www.wmbfnews.com/2019/09/23/santee-cooper-building-solar-farm-myrs-property/
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/com-mrenergy-cdn/general-uploads/Pierre-Solar-Fact-Sheet-for-MRES-Annual-Meeting.pdf
- https://exbulletin.com/world/1642241/
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Panethos 