SPECIAL REPORT: LAND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL REPORT: LAND USE
across a total of 45 acres of land that are capable of producing up to 13 million kilowatt-hours of electricity yearly. The output will make DIA the largest distributed self-generated
photovoltaic energy producer in the state of Colorado. Aviation manager, Kim Day, says: “Denver’s airport has a
widespread reputation as a green airport. Our partnership with Oak Leaf Energy, Constellation Energy and Intermountain Electric not only expands our sustainability efforts, but is a great example of public-private partnerships advancing the green economy.” Intermountain Electric Inc is building the newest system,
with solar panels provided by Yingli Green Energy. The new power array will reportedly reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 metric tonnes per year. One of three US airports to be accepted into the Environmental
Protection Agency’s National Performance Track Program, Denver’s solar project is in fact one of the largest solar installations in North America. Entrepreneurial Denver also makes money from a total of 76 oil and
gas wells located across the airport site, although Dallas/Fort Worth is probably best know for its oil and gas drilling. Indeed, DFW sits on top of one of North America’s
biggest natural gas fields, Barnet Shell, which could earn the airport up to $1 billion over the next 10 to 15 years. DFW earned an initial $186 million in ‘signing
bonuses’ for allowing drilling to commence on the airport site and has since averaged about $30 million a year in additional oil and gas revenues, which have been set aside for future capital development projects. The potential windfall was actually discovered around
a 12-years ago, but the lack of sophisticated drilling technology meant that DFW was unable to tap into the goldmine 7,000 ft below its surface until 2007. Eventually up to 52 drilling pad sites could
extract the gas from as many as 330 wells by drilling vertically 7,000 ft down and then turning horizontally in different directions and drilling for up to another 6,000 ft. “Nobody knows for sure how much revenue we will
make from the gas field, but whatever revenue we do make will be used wisely to ensure the continued future growth of this airport,” says DFW CEO, Jeff Fegan.
DFW’s decision to site the 1.5-acre drilling pads in remote
locations means that it is possible to drive around the airport and never view a well. The policy is also designed to guarantee that they pose no threat to
the environment or the safety of airport staff. Fegan says that DFW insisted that the gas company involved in the
drilling operation utilise new technologies “with low emission characteristics” to limit the impact on the environment. It would seem that when it comes to innovative projects, the world’s
airports are quick learners and where possible are utilising their land to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint as well as generate new revenue streams.
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AIRPORT WORLD/FEBRUARY-MARCH 2011
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