Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 8

163 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 8 EVANSV I LLE REGIONAL A I RPORT panels in a field. Panels needed guttering, underground wiring dug, and solutions found to hide exposed wires. There was also an upgrade in parking management systems that allows visitors to access the parking a lot easier and via a touchless system, again an addition that worked well for COVID-19 hygiene protocols. Hahn admits, “We did everything we could to make things easier for our passengers and protect them during COVID-19, and our efforts worked out well. In addition, the solar panels are reducing our carbon footprint and making the airport more competitive and sustainable moving forward.” EVV is always looking at expanding its service offerings, especially with new prospective airlines inside the terminal. The airport has ample land surrounding it to expand into, with opportunities to build and develop. Most of the hangars are currently being leased by the FBO, and some are owned by private individuals. However, one special hangar is the Evansville EVV being an airport that doesn’t rest on its laurels, the decision was made to reach out to the passengers and ask what they wanted. The one improvement people asked for was covered parking. This was also a request from the rental car agents. If it was raining, passengers landing for business in Evansville couldn’t get to their vehicle without getting wet. Coincidentally, while researching solar energy solutions, airport management discovered that they could cover the parking area in solar panels. Hahn elaborates, “We spent a good amount of time getting the solar up and running, but we’ve been able to cover 400 spaces. It’s currently the largest array of its kind in the Midwest and the second largest in the U.S.– generating 1.3 megawatts of power.” The winning contractors for the project, Johnson Melloh Solutions, came to the table with a plan, as it was more complex than just installing