TRC Moves Massport Toward a Cleaner Energy Future
Challenge
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), a public authority which owns, operates and manages Boston Logan International Airport, Worcester Regional Airport, Lawrence G. Hanscom Field, Conley Container Terminal and Flynn Cruiseport Boston, is managing an ambitious transition to a clean and sustainable energy future. In 2022, Massport unveiled its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, identifying electrification as a critical pathway to meet 2031 and 2040 goals. To fulfill its ambitious goals and reach new pathways to success, Massport needed a trusted advisor and tested solution provider to resolve challenges and chart a course forward.
Related Services
Solution
TRC has worked with Massport since 2021 to meet its decarbonization commitments, providing advisory, engineering and technical support as well as project implementation and operations management focused on electrification.
We support Massport with long-term strategic planning for electrification, helping prepare for electric grid infrastructure expansion over time. Our team models future electrical demand growth, illustrating which end uses (i.e., electric vehicle supply equipment, HVAC, etc.) will drive increased electrical demand and predicting what future demand will look like in relation to available capacity. This forecast helps Massport ensure resilience and the ability to support mission critical operations in the future.
We are advancing Massport’s transportation electrification programs, providing project, administrative and data management support for EV and equipment charging infrastructure. Our work includes advanced GIS mapping and utilization reporting for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) across landside, airside and maritime operations.
TRC also manages the electrification program for ground support equipment (GSE) operated by airlines at Boston Logan, advancing the ambitious goal of replacing fossil-fuel powered GSE with zero-emission technology. This work leverages funding from sources such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust and the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program. Our team oversees policy development, grant compliance and reporting, stakeholder outreach strategies and interacts with EVSE vendors as part of this process.
Results
Our analysis for each site in Massport’s portfolio is documented in the Current and Future Demand Studies report, which also includes our recommendations for future electric vehicle (EV) and electrical ground support equipment (eGSE) charge management and guidance on strategic investments in solar and energy storage. These strategies are helping mitigate electrical demand peaks and reduce operational issues with the electrical grid. As a result, Massport executed plans to manage Scope 2 emissions in order to meet their 2031 and 2040 GHG reduction goals. Our ongoing work includes finalizing and implementing an eGSE policy, which will assist Massport in reducing Scope 3 (tenant) emissions.