b'GROUND SUPPORTSLC 53Specific goals to reduce SLCs greenhouse gas emission include:procuring 100% renewable energy by 2040; transitioning to entirely electric or other zero-emissions vehicles by 2040; andachieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per passenger by 2040, compared to 2009 levels.Staples explains that there are three classifications of greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 1 are those directly influenced by the airport, such as airport shuttles; Scope 2 are emissions from the purchased electricity to operate the terminal; and Scope 3 are emissions from aircraft. The conversion to electric ground support equipment is a helpful way to assist the airlines reduce their Scope 1 emissions, while improving our Scope 3 emissions, Staples says. If we put in the charging stations, were having a direct influence on their emissions.Airport leaders understood it was important to add infrastructure necessary to support the transition and provide sufficient charging stations as the new equipment began to arrive. Under its latest airline use agreement, SLC provides the charging infrastructure and the airlines supply their own ground support equipment, including bag tugs, belt conveyors and pushback tractors.When designing the charging infrastructure, SLC placed all of the charging units against the concourse exteriors to enhance safety. The airport invested in a multi and dual vehicle charging system powering at 30kW, 40kW and 80kW. Primary and secondary charging systems allow airlines to smart charge their electric ground support equipment. Bag tugs are charged under the new concourses, where diesel tugs previously operated. Eliminating the need for a ventilation support equipment, providing immediate, impactful health benefitssystem that diesel tugs require was a huge cost savings for the to the community as well as workers who operate the equipment.airport when building the new airport, notes Staples. Only baggage We knew electric GSE [ground support equipment] was thetugs with lithium batteries can be charged in unventilated areas.future, Staples says. We were lucky because we were building aWhen SLCs project was being planned, electric charging was completely new airport. relatively new at airports, so there were few design examples or To work toward its goal of eliminating all equipment that burnstandards to reference. Now that the new facility is operational, fossil fuels, SLC began to transition its shuttles to compressedthere are some modifications that would make use easier, but we natural gas in 1991 and operates under a Green Fleet Action Plan.were doing the best with what we knew at the time in terms of Currently, the airports shuttle fleet operates on 100% renewabledesign and installation, Staples reflects. natural gas, and it is transitioning to a fleet of more than 30 electricNetworking with other airports and sharing ideas has been Ford F-150s and Transit vans for Operations and Maintenancebeneficial throughout the transition. I still learn a lot from other departments. A new airline use agreement signed in April 2014,airports, whether its operations, maintenance or engineering, he required its airline partners to transition to electric ground supportrelates.equipment within 18 months of the new terminal opening. WeAs of early October, fully 96% of the ground support equipment needed to give them notification and give them time to ramp up,at SLC is now electric. The 478 pieces include aircraft tractors, explains Staples.baggage tractors and belt loaders. There are 442 chargers and an The Transitionadditional 94 slated for installation. Prior to the policy change and mandate, there were just two electricWhile some airlines ended up purchasing new equipment to ground support vehicles at SLC; the rest operated on gasoline andmeet the airports requirement, much of the equipment was already diesel fuel. Airport leaders knew the transition would not be easy,in operation at other locations and relocated to SLC. Staples but the benefits to the environment, community and airlines heavilyestimates that Delta Air Lines, the dominant carrier at SLC, owns outweighed those challenges, Staples says.and operates about 90% of the ground support equipment at the airport. They really got on the ball and started transitioning right off the bat, he comments.AirportImprovement.comNovember | December 2024'