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Salinas Airport launches $20,000 hydrogen-feasibility study to test demand and siting
Summary
The Salinas Airport Commission approved a $20,000 feasibility study to assess demand and potential locations for hydrogen fueling for aircraft and ground vehicles; staff expects results in two to three months and says the study is funded from the airport enterprise fund.
The Salinas Airport Commission has begun a $20,000 feasibility study to evaluate whether the airport should host hydrogen fueling for aircraft and motor vehicles and where such a station could be sited.
Matt, the airport manager, told commissioners the study will look at demand from fixed‑wing aircraft that could someday transition from jet fuel to hydrogen and at “multi modalities” such as buses, cars and agricultural equipment. He said the study team will examine several potential locations, including the former low‑lead jet‑A fuel farm off Moffett Street (within the runway protection zone) and land on the airport’s east side, and will consider proximity to Highway 101 as a factor for serving vehicles on the highway.
The airport manager said the study is expected to yield results in “the next 2 months or 3 months,” and that the work is being paid from the airport’s enterprise fund. He told commissioners the project could create a new revenue stream through fuel flowage fees if demand proves sufficient.
Commissioners and public attendees asked about production methods and cost. The airport manager said there are “two ways of producing hydrogen” and that producing it from natural gas is debated for cleanliness; he said the commission will report back with more technical details once the study identifies likely users and supply options. He also noted that other local operations, such as regional transit, already use hydrogen buses and that transit provider MST is a potential partner.
If the study shows sufficient demand and a feasible site, the manager said he would return to the commission with a proposal to proceed, analogous to approving a new gas station on airport property. He said any station would be for public use and likely operated commercially by a third party if approved.
The commission did not take a final policy vote to build or lease a hydrogen station at this meeting; the item under discussion was the feasibility study and next steps.
