Congressman Carson Statement on Termination of Indianapolis Airport Grant

INDIANAPOLIS-Today, Congressman André Carson (IN-07) - a Senior Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - released a statement in response to the Trump administration's plan to terminate almost $37 million in clean energy infrastructure grants nationwide, including a $6.7 million grant for the Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

Congressman Carson was notified that the Federal Aviation Administration is planning to terminate the Indianapolis grant because it "does not align with the administration's priorities." The Trump administration has previously targeted grants that contain key words like sustainable, solar, green, electric, zero, emissions, climate, and resilient.

This grant was originally awarded for Fiscal Year 2023 to IND's solar power battery storage facility - the largest airport-based solar farm in the world - to support the airport's north airfield electrical vault and provide maintenance and improvements for safe operations.

Congressman Carson made the following statement:

"The Trump administration is taking money away from Indianapolis to score cheap political points in Washington.

"The Trump administration would have you believe this is a far left, pie-in-the-sky project with no track record. That couldn't be further from the truth. The IND Solar Farm was first launched in 2014 with the support of Republican Mayor Greg Ballard. Republicans and Democrats have long supported this project because it is economically viable and environmentally intelligent. It provides renewable energy to the electric grid, lowers emissions, improves air quality, and lowers the airport's operating costs. The IND Solar Farm is the largest in the world and was even featured as a model project in testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee.

"Infrastructure should not be partisan. There are no Democratic or Republican bridges, roads, or airports. Clean solar energy serves everyone, especially through the Indianapolis Airport solar farm.

"Especially in the midst of a government shutdown - where many air traffic controllers and aviation safety personnel are working without pay or furloughed - this announcement is a blow to the hardworking aviation professionals who keeps our skies the safest in the world.

"It's frustrating to watch the incompetence of this administration as they search for 'woke' words in program titles without any understanding of how government works or the benefits of the programs they're slashing. This funding belongs to Indianapolis - not Trump."