A Sustainable Standout in Oklahoma City

FAA center demonstrates how federal government can embed sustainability into daily business operations, creating long-lasting benefits for our environment.

One of the FAA’s leaders of sustainable innovation is located on a sprawling 1,100-acre campus in Oklahoma City. The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) has long been recognized for its environmental improvements — from being one of the first U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) locations to implement electric vehicle charging stations to its creation of a pollinator habitat.

Last month, Philip McNamara, DOT assistant secretary for administration, and Brad Mims, FAA deputy administrator, traveled to Oklahoma City to view sustainability improvements as the Center continues working toward carbon-free emissions. Since 2003, it has achieved a 30 percent reduction in energy usage, and a 50 percent reduction since 1995. Water use has dropped 43 percent.

“I was truly impressed by the actions the Center has taken to tackle the climate crisis. We will continue to make investments in our nation’s sustainability efforts on the ground and in the sky,” said Mims.

The Center’s initial move toward sustainability stemmed from an executive order in the early 2000s. Since then, its conservation successes have earned a series of energy and sustainability awards in the areas of green energy, innovation, sustainable buildings, a pollinator flagship habitat, water conservation, environmental achievements and, most recently, harmonic filter installation.

The Aeronautical Center is a Pollinator Flagship Facility as designated by DOT. Not only do these native areas support local pollinators, but they also reduce operations and maintenance costs by reducing the need for mowing and trimming.

“Driving sustainability takes courage,” said Michelle Coppedge, MMAC Director. “Sometimes adversity becomes a catalyst for change.”

Because of this commitment, 23 of the Center’s buildings are certified as sustainable federal buildings under Council on Environmental Quality principles. About two-thirds of these were renovated or retrofitted to earn this status.

Natural grasses and plants indigenous to Oklahoma sprout up throughout the Center’s landscaping, contributing to lower water consumption.

Over the last five years, 19 percent of its energy has come from renewable sources, and it has converted more than 100 work vehicles to electronic vehicles (EVs) over the past decade.

The Center also partnered with Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) on a pilot program, paid for by OG&E, to install personal vehicle charging stations on the campus. The team is now working toward installing additional charging stations that will allow the FAA to replace passenger-size government vehicles with EVs.

DOT and FAA members get “energized” by some of the sustainability successes observed at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, including adoption of an electric vehicle program with charging stations for employees and electric vehicles on campus.

Later this year, the Center plans to begin installing a new solar power system. When completed, it will be the largest solar farm in the FAA at 1.5 megawatts and producing an estimated 2,600 megawatt-hours of electricity yearly. This is equal to powering 260 homes.

“The foundation of this success is employees who are committed to a culture of embedding sustainability into daily business operations,” said Coppedge.

Visit faa.gov/sustainability to learn more about how the FAA is working to build a net-zero sustainable aviation system by 2050.