A study conducted by researchers from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says airports may want to consider converting to alternative fuels where it is both economically and environmentally beneficial. In introducing the research results, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said – such efforts may be particularly beneficial for rural economic development, as many rural airport properties contain expansive grasslands that potentially could be converted to biofuel crops or other renewable energy sources.

Converting airport grasslands to biofuel, solar or wind production not only provides more environmentally-sound alternative energy sources for our country, but may also increase revenue for airports and reduce the local abundance of potentially hazardous wildlife to aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration is committed to working with airports interested in pursuing the potential for changes in land use to support alternative energy production.

Once biofuel crops are identified for airport use that have low wildlife-strike risks compared to existing airport land covers, converting grasslands to these land uses could produce renewable energy and also provide airports with an additional source of revenue.

Courtesy: NAFB News