Commercial airports are sources of high levels of economic activity and emissions.  Sources of air pollution at airports are broad-based: aviation, and ground activities on the airside (ground support equipment, airfield operations, aircraft fueling, emergency operations, etc.) and on the landside (taxis, shuttles, parking operations, passenger pick-up/drop-off, cargo delivery, etc.). 

Since airports are under strict federal control, opportunities to address facility-wide air pollution are often guided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  Emissions from aviation sources are controlled solely by the FAA and are outside the purview of the airports themselves.  Therefore, any efforts to reduce air pollution at airports must focus solely on ground sources.

Over the past two years, the major commercial airports in California (Los Angeles International, San Francisco International, San Diego International, Oakland International, Minetta-San Jose International, Sacramento Metropolitan, and Fresno-Yosemite) have met informally to address common problems and share best practices as they relate to environmental issues.  The group asked CALSTART to advise and assist them in matters relating to cleaner ground transportation options.

In 2008 CALSTART spearheaded a group submission of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) proposal.  This proposal sought grant funds to retrofit and/or replace vehicles that are used in airport operations and by firms that are licensed to operate at the airports.

In February 2009 the group was successful in winning a DERA grant in the amount of $895,827. CALSTART will administer the grant funds to the participating airports, monitor participant performance, and collect data for project reporting purposes.

Project Description
Each of the airports included in this project will conduct separate and different retrofit/replacement actions.

Oakland International Airport
OAK will retrofit ten (10) 1999 model year Gillig 35-foot shuttle buses equipped with Cummins ISC 280 horsepower engines with diesel particulate filters.  These buses are used to service the airport’s remote parking lots.

San Diego International Airport
SAN plans to retrofit five (5) different on-field, off-road vehicles with particulate filters:
•    two Oshkosh P-50 ARFF rescue vehicles (one 1999 MY and one 2003 MY) with Detroit Diesel engines AZ92TA.
•    two Tennant sweepers, one a 1990 MY model 95AA, and the other a 1998 MY model 830, both with 65 hp Perkins Diesel engines;
•    one 2002 MY Tennant scrubber model 1550 with a Perkins Diesel engine.

San Francisco International Airport
SFO has an ambitious plan that contains a mix of fuel price differential, diesel vehicle replacements with CNG models, and diesel retrofit devices.  
•    Utilize B20 biodiesel in place of the ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel currently used.  We estimate using 110,000 gallons of B20 during the project period with a cost differential of $0.41 per gallon.  
•    Replace three MY 1998 Ford F-350 pick-up trucks with 7.3L diesel engines with similar CNG models equipped with 5.4L engines from BAF Technologies.  
•    Retrofit six on-field pieces of equipment with particulate filters:
•    2007 John Deere backhoe with a 6.8L engine,
•    1993 MY Linkbelt crane HSP 8028S crane with an 8.2L engine
•    1995 MY Gradall XL5200 Excavator with a 6BTA 5.9L engine
•    1995 MY John Deere 710D Backhoe with a 5.9L engine
•    Two 1998 MY Ford New Holland Mowers with 7.8T Ford diesel engines
•    Replace two Ford E-450 shuttle buses (MY 2000 and 2004) and one Ford E-350 shuttle bus—all equipped with 7.3L diesel engines—with 6.8L CNG cutaway models from BAF Technologies.  These shuttles are owned and operated by Monterey Airbus but are licensed to operate exclusively at both SFO and Minetta-San Jose International Airport.

In addition to these three airports, additional diesel emission reductions measures will be undertaken by tenants at Los Angeles International Airport.  The affected vehicles will most likely be ground support equipment such as fuel tankers and pushback tugs.  We are currently negotiating to re-power up to 10 vehicles at LAX.