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Airport committee cautious on electric aircraft charging; tables local investment pending market demand
Summary
The committee discussed WSDOT’s survey about electric aircraft and advanced air mobility infrastructure and concluded it is premature to spend city funds on charging infrastructure; members proposed tabling the issue until clearer demand or industry pilots emerge.
The committee reviewed correspondence from WSDOT seeking input on interest and readiness for electric aircraft charging and other advanced air mobility infrastructure.
Members noted the technology is still developing and that uncertainty about standards (charging ports, power capacity, cable sizing) makes early local investment risky. “We should wait until there's some demand for this type of infrastructure or let's wait till there's an electric vehicle in the air before we start plugging them in,” one member said.
Some members said they would welcome private investment from manufacturers or operators if a company offered to install charging infrastructure at its own expense, but the committee generally agreed the city should not commit public funds now. One member suggested tabling the subject until certification and market viability are clearer. The committee recorded informal consensus to postpone any capital commitment and to respond to WSDOT indicating limited current local interest but openness to future coordination should operators propose installations.
No formal expenditure or pilot program was approved at the meeting.
