Federal Funds for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Co-generation Power Facility
The North Terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport would draw heat from a new gas-fired micro-turbine.
Photo Credit: Scott Rhode | Alaska Business
Federal funds help Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) build a co-generation power plant to become more self-sustaining and efficient. A $3.3 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will pay for a natural gas-fueled micro-turbine that can generate both heat and power for the state-owned airport, allowing uninterrupted power even if the rest of Anchorage goes dark.
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The funding is part of FAA’s 2023 Supplemental Discretionary Grant Program, designed to support innovative projects that improve airport infrastructure and sustainability.
“We are proud to be among the recipients of this critical funding, which will enable us to implement advanced energy solutions,” says Angie Spear, acting director of ANC.
The airport power plant is meant to bolster the operational resilience of ANC.
Designed with an impressive 90 percent energy conversion efficiency, the plant will operate in parallel with the utility grid to ensure uninterrupted power during outages. It also will reduce reliance on existing boiler systems. The co-generation system will generate both electrical and thermal energy, effectively capturing waste heat for the North Terminal’s heating needs.
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October 2024
The North Terminal is mainly used by air cargo crews, handling about 14,000 travelers per year (or about a planeload per day) compared to the much busier South Terminal, which sees as many as 4 million travelers per year.
State funding to refurbish the North Terminal followed investments by New Pacific Airlines after the startup spent $6 million in 2022 constructing a passenger lounge in anticipation of reviving international flights. Those plans are on hold, as New Pacific has been unable to generate significant cashflow since halting limited flights in the Lower 48 earlier this year.
