Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is transforming its skyline into a clean energy powerhouse. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Monday announced a major solar infrastructure expansion that will nearly tenfold the agency’s solar capacity compared to 2021 levels.
The new initiative will add approximately 5 megawatts of generating capacity across five distinct airport sites. Once operational, the project is expected to produce nearly 5.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to power more than 550 homes and offset the emissions of roughly 460 gasoline-powered vehicles each year.
The Port Authority’s green transformation has moved at terminal velocity. In 2021, the agency managed just 1.6 megawatts of solar power. With the Newark expansion, the agency’s total portfolio will climb to nearly 20 megawatts across 32,000 solar panels.
“Since Day One, my administration has moved quickly to bring new, clean energy onto the grid,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said. “Newark Liberty is one of the front doors to New Jersey, and this project will show why we are a national leader in energy innovation.”
Unlike traditional solar arrays, this project utilizes “found space” across the airport’s complex infrastructure. The 7,000 new panels will be installed across:
- Terminal C Garage and the P4 Parking Garage
- Rooftops of Buildings 79 and 80
- A dedicated rideshare lot, where the solar energy will specifically power fast-charging stations for electric vehicles.
The project is being developed in partnership with SunLight General Capital under a power purchase agreement. This model allows the Port Authority to lock in long-term energy costs while the developer handles the financing, construction and maintenance. Construction is slated to begin later this year, with a completion date set for 2028.
This expansion is a critical piece of the Port Authority’s roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The agency recently announced it has already met its preliminary goal of a 35% reduction in direct emissions through 2025, and is now eyeing a 50% reduction by 2030.
“The scale of what we are building… reflects how seriously this agency takes the broader challenge of climate change,” Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said. “It is a construction schedule and a signed agreement, with the reality of clean energy coming online at one of the busiest airports in the country.”
Newark Liberty is already home to the largest rooftop solar installation at any U.S. airport (located at the Terminal A garage). This latest expansion joins other high-profile Port Authority projects, including a 12-megawatt solar carport at JFK International and a 7.2-megawatt installation at Port Newark.
From fully decarbonized historic buildings to electric ground service equipment, Newark Liberty is proving that the future of aviation isn’t just in the air—it’s powered by the sun hitting the tarmac.
