Dubuque Regional Airport to Host Ribbon Cutting for Solar Array Project 

OCT. 4, 2024

The Dubuque Regional Airport will join with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce to host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the airport’s new solar array. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. and will be held at the array, south of the Capt. Robert L. Martin Terminal, 10965 Aviation Drive. 

The airport’s solar array project was a collaboration with Eagle Point Solar and Maquoketa Valley Electric Regional Electric Cooperative. The solar panels were installed in late spring and are now supplying power for the airport’s terminal, as well as the lighting in the airport vehicle and aircraft parking area.  

“By being more sustainable, we’re also able to offset costs here at the Dubuque Regional Airport,” says Airport Director Todd Dalsing. “In a fairly short timeframe, this project will provide a significant savings for the airport and the City of Dubuque.” 

The solar panels are expected to cut the airport’s annual electrical costs by approximately half. They will also reduce the airport’s carbon footprint by more than 7,000 tones of carbon dioxide. That’s roughly the equivalent of: 

• 776,000 gallons of gasoline, 
• 796,000,000 full cell phone charges, 
• 7.4 million pounds of coal burned, 
• Planting 177,000 trees. 

“The Dubuque Regional Airport solar project will make a positive financial and environmental impact for the facility for decades to come,” says Kent Kraus, Eagle Point Solar Key Account Manager. “The array will produce, store and discharge clean, affordable, renewable energy helping to meet the ongoing energy consumption needs for the terminal while greatly reducing operating costs.” 

The total cost of the project was $1.5 million, of which 95% was provided by federal grants through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The legislation’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP) provides $1 billion each year through 2026 for airport terminal development projects. 

“Projects like this certainly wouldn’t be possible without the support of our federal legislators,” Dalsing added. “We’re very appreciative of the efforts of Senator Charles Grassley and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in bringing us opportunities to receive these federal funds.” 

In 2023, the Dubuque Regional Airport served more than 19,000 outbound commercial passengers, its highest number of passengers since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The airport also continues to serve a wide range of private, business, and educational flights. DBQ also recently secured the addition of a daily flight to and from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago with Denver Air Connection. That service will begin on Nov. 4. 

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MEDIA CONTACT
Todd Dalsing, Dubuque Regional Airport Director
TDalsing@cityofdubuque.org, 563.589.4233