Port of Bellingham installs 250 solar panels at BLI airport to reduce emissions and costs
The Port of Bellingham has installed 250 solar panels at Bellingham International Airport in an effort to decrease energy costs, and officials are pursuing federal funding to help pay for part of the project.
The Port announced the installation in a Nov. 26 news release, stating the 250-panel solar array is part of The Port’s Climate Action Strategy “to enhance environmental, economic and community health for future generations,” according to the news release.
The 250-solar panels will generate 100,000-kilowatt hours each year, reduce carbon emissions, provide clean, renewable energy and lower the airport’s electricity costs.
“Our community has high environmental standards and it’s important to communicate the Port’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency and how we are making a difference. With this rooftop installation of solar panels, Bellingham International Airport is setting a precedent for airports across the nation,” Port Sustainability Program Manager Adrienne Douglass-Scott said in the news release.
“The Port hopes to utilize federal incentives to pay for 30% of the cost of the system,” although the total cost of the project was not disclosed in the news release.
The solar panel installation is the second major solar project the Port has completed, following an installation of 336 panels on the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in 2021, the largest solar panel array on a public building in Whatcom County, according to the news release.
“The solar installation is part of the Port’s Climate Action Strategy with the goal to reduce Port controlled greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% from 2019 levels by 2030 and 100% from 2019 levels by 2050,” the news release states.
This story was originally published December 15, 2024 at 1:25 PM.
