Hunter
09/20/24
The Iowa City Municipal Airport will begin a solar array installation project next week.
The Daily Iowan reports after putting out bids for the project in March, the airport decided to go local. Solar By Brandt, a division of long-time Iowa City company Brandt Heating and Air Conditioning,
Project coordinator Teri Van Dyke with Solar By Brandt says the project will be cost-beneficial for the airport, the city and taxpayers as it will substantially reduce the airport’s electric bills. Airport Manager Michael Tharp said that once fully implemented, the project will cut the facility’s $22,000 annual electric bill in half.
The airport started looking at solar options back in 2020 but did not have the budget. That changed with the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2021. It earmarked nearly $443,000 for the Airport, which received the funding earlier this year. The project will cost $1.2 million and the first phase begins Monday. It will cover infrastructure on the city’s account, such as the terminal building, the runway lighting, and the ambulatory building.