Doing the right thing pays off

Ports

The Port of Friday Harbor received a $4,720 rebate from OPALCO’s Commercial Lighting Upgrade Program for the installed LED taxiway signs and lights at the airport.

This lighting replacement was part of the Taxiway ‘A’ Realignment project in the summer of 2012. The lighting project included the replacement of 34 signs and 186 taxiway edge lights with LED fixtures. With the changes, the Port estimates it will save 30% each year in electrical usage.

The total Taxiway project costs came to $3.4 million, and the lights and signs totaled about $300,000 of that amount.

The Port of Friday Harbor obtained a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for 90% of this project. About $90,700 came from Washington State Department of Transportation, and about $250,000 from the Port.

The Port intends to replace the runway lights with LED technology in 2014. These cost saving efforts reflect the Port Commission’s goal of reducing operating costs at the Airport by using less energy.