Albuquerque International Sunport Awarded Funding for Electric Ground Support Equipment

December 5, 2018

The Albuquerque International Sunport partnered with Southwest Airlines to secure funds from the Volkswagen Settlement Mitigation Trust Fund to replace three of Southwest’s pushback tractors with electric vehicles and corresponding chargers at the Sunport. Replacing these tractors, which are used to push aircraft in preparation for takeoff, will eliminate 22.67 tons of nitrogen oxide over the lifetime of the vehicles – an average of 30 years.

“Replacing fuel-guzzling ground equipment at the Sunport is a way to move Albuquerque forward on the path to sustainability,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Converting these vehicles to electric operations will significantly reduce the Sunport’s carbon footprint while maintaining the level of service we expect from our beloved airport.”

The Sunport is working to significantly reduce the airport’s greenhouse gas emissions, a major part of the Sunport’s Sustainability Master Plan and the City’s broader plans to utilize renewable energy. Part of that goal includes working with airport partners to convert all ground equipment utilizing fossil fuel to electric-powered equipment as well as utilizing reclaimed water when possible, recycling and decreasing overall waste, and adding more solar.

“Reducing emissions at the Sunport is just one small part of Mayor Keller’s roadmap to move the City to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Nyika Allen, Director of Aviation for the City of Albuquerque. “This funding and partnership with Southwest is a great step in the right direction, and we look forward to working with our partners to convert more ground equipment in the coming years.”