JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday, June 4 to allow the Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) to receive $180,000 of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funding to complete an Environmental Study to reach Net Zero Carbon status by 2050.
The Jackson Town Council approved the same item at its Monday, June 3 meeting and the Airport Board will vote on accepting the grant at its June 19 meeting.
Referred to as the Net Zero Roadmap, the study will analyze energy usage for terminal buildings, airport vehicles and other systems, to identify energy efficiency and emission reduction measures that can be implemented to achieve net zero carbon by 2050, a goal set by the U.S. aviation sector through the Biden Administration.
The airport industry has adopted the same goal, and the Jackson Hole Airport Board is pursuing it, too, because they are seeking Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International.
The study will be conducted by JAC’s environmental consultant Mead & Hunt and will include data collection, stakeholder engagement, an emission forecast if business continues as usual and carbon reduction strategies. The study will culminate with a final net zero roadmap that will inform decision-making surrounding energy usage.
According to the County’s staff reports, the grant funding must be used within four years of acceptance, and the Jackson Hole Airport Board will cover any extra funding needs beyond what the grant provides.
Jackson Hole Airport is the only airport in the U.S. located within a National Park.
