Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sustainability Master Plan?
A sustainability master plan examines current conditions to establish baselines of an organization’s infrastructure and activities related to sustainability and resiliency, then sets goals for changes and improvements that are achievable, based on the baseline data that is collected and in alignment with broader organization and community goals. An implementation plan is then developed to map out actionable steps to achieving those goals. ELP’s Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) is intended to be comprehensive in nature, looking at all aspects of airport infrastructure and organization. The SMP will weave together elements of environmental, economic, and social impact to chart a path for optimal outcomes at ELP and the surrounding community.
Why is having a Sustainability Master Plan important to the El Paso International Airport?
ELP recognizes the importance of a concerted focus on sustainability for all its stakeholders. The airport has already undertaken multiple sustainability projects focused on renewable energy and reducing energy demand and will use this sustainability plan to identify additional ways that the airport can reduce its environmental impact on the community while being a good steward of the resources it uses. Challenges related to air quality, water scarcity, and energy resiliency are specific examples of sustainability challenges in the El Paso region that will be examined in this plan.
Additionally, the City of El Paso is currently developing a Climate Action Plan 🔗, providing additional opportunities for synergy with other ongoing sustainability efforts. Finally, the sustainability plan process provides opportunities for the airport to engage with its stakeholders and community and collect valuable feedback to support the development of a community-driven plan.
How will the Sustainability Master Plan benefit the El Paso International Airport?
Goals developed as part of the Sustainability Master Plan are expected to be multi-faceted and include considerations related to airport infrastructure, the airport’s organization and staff, and the broader community of airport users, area residents, and other stakeholders. Reducing energy demand and consumption at the airport is a high priority at ELP, given the immediate effect and significance of decarbonization and climate resiliency strategy. This will in turn deliver reductions in GHG emissions, utility and maintenance cost savings, and positive health impacts for the community. Overall, benefits of these goals are expected to include reductions in environmental impacts and resource usage, development and implementation of sustainable practices, and potential added economic and social benefits.
How do the sustainability & resiliency grants and projects benefit the El Paso International Airport?
The airport has recently been successful in winning grants for the construction of two solar arrays. These projects will allow the airport to harness the abundant West Texas sunshine and generate renewable electricity, reducing its demand on generation from other sources, including fossil-fuel based sources, and providing additional electricity generation. The recent grant to improve a portion of the terminal building roof will increase resiliency of the building, reducing vulnerability to severe weather events and potential associated damage to building infrastructure. The airport is also completing a project to replace all lighting within the terminal building with LED lighting, thereby reducing electrical demand associated with the lighting systems.
