SUN Climate Action Strategy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2021 the Blaine County Sustainability & Climate Advisory Committee (comprising stakeholders from Blaine County, the City of Ketchum, the City of Hailey, and local organizations and departments, including Friedman Memorial Airport) initiated a regional Sustainability Program to reduce the community’s contribution to climate change. Further, recognizing the aviation sector’s impact on climate change, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its first Aviation Climate Action Plan, setting a goal of Net Zero by 2050 for the aviation sector and outlining initiatives to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
As an integral resource for the region, the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority (FMAA) recognizes its responsibility to contribute towards making progress for a sustainable and resilient community. Therefore, to align with the local community, as well as the aviation industry’s commitment to carbon reduction, the FMAA has developed a Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) Climate Action Strategy to identify current emission-reduction initiatives at the Airport and provide recommendations for future measures. As part of the Climate Action Strategy process, the Airport is evaluating measures to mitigate its impact on climate change.
To track improvements over time, the FMAA completed its first Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory to account for airport-related emissions. The FMAA is proud to have current sustainable practices and policies in place to reduce consumption, minimize costs, and improve efficiencies – all of which provide net financial, operational, environmental, and social benefits – and is committed to seeking out and implementing new emissions-reduction measures, as possible, at the Airport.
Accomplishments to date
- Blaine County Regional Sustainability & Climate Advisory Committee
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
- LED Replacements
- All Runway Edge lighting system
- All Terminal, FBO, De-Icing apron, and Parking lot overhead lights
- All interior lighting in Airport Admin/Operations Building and cold storage building (in progress)
- New snowplow/broom/deice combination “multi-tasking units”– one operator can perform multiple functions in one vehicle which before required multiple, separate pieces of equipment = more efficient equipment use + less emissions
Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) Climate Action Strategy
The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority (FMAA) has released its first in-depth greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. As part of its intention to align with the community GHG emissions inventory and the City of Hailey’s commitment to carbon reduction, FMAA voluntarily commissioned the preparation of this inventory associated with activity at the airport.
Released May 3, 2022, the 48-page inventory uses the year 2020 as a baseline because it is the most current year for which the airport has complete data. Although during the pandemic, enplanements in 2020 were significantly reduced, overall airport operations (takeoffs and landings) remained consistent.
Prepared by Denver-based Mead & Hunt, the inventory is organized by the party that has ownership or control over the sources of emissions. In the case of the airport, those categories include airport-owned/controlled, airlines, aircraft operators, tenant-owned/controlled, and public-owned/controlled.
