Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office recently released more than $74 million for airport improvement projects taking place across the state, including the more than $700 million Honolulu Airport expansion that broke ground in May.
Those funds include $15 million to help demolish that airport’s old Aloha Air Cargo facility, and more than $45 million to help widen taxiways there and eventually accommodate larger planes. The entire project is expected to take four years to complete.
"We are making significant investments in our airports that will bring immediate and long-term benefits for the people of Hawaii," Abercrombie said in a statement. "These priority projects coincide with the launch of an unprecedented energy efficiency program that will cut energy use at our airports nearly in half."
The funding released by the governor’s office also includes $150,000 for a "Sustainable Management Plan" at the airport, which, combined with $450,000 in federal funds, aims to set "sustainability goals and initiatives, assessment of potential funding sources, and establishment of procedures to ensure identified goals are met," according to a news release.
Abercrombie unveiled earlier this month a detailed energy savings plan for Honolulu Airport, which he said would save more than $500 million in costs during a 20-year period. The state awarded Milwaukee-based firm Johnson Controls a $150 million contract to oversee the replacement of hundreds of airport transformers, thousands of light fixtures and solar photovoltaic panels, and other upgrades for that effort.
However, state officials say the additional $600,000 Sustainability Management Plan is still needed. It will cover more than energy savings, including efforts at recycling, solid-waste reduction and water conservation, they say.
The dollars released are described as "airport funds" — a mix of cash, bonds, federal grants, airport user fees and rental car facility collections, according to state transportation officials.
No state taxpayer funds or general fund dollars are used for airport projects, but that money nonetheless is released by Abercrombie as part of his statewide capital improvement program, officials said.
