Colorado Allocates $7.3M for Airport Transition to Unleaded Aviation Fuel
The Colorado Aeronautical Board has sanctioned a hefty sum of $7.3 million in state funding. This move aims to bolster airport infrastructure and expedite the transition from leaded to unleaded aviation fuel. This decision addresses the escalating environmental and health apprehensions about lead emissions from general aviation aircraft.
The funding package, unveiled on April 28, 2026, comprises over $639,000 exclusively allocated to assist two Colorado airports in their transition to unleaded aviation fuel. The beneficiaries of this initiative are Boulder Municipal Airport and Fremont County Airport. The former will receive $63,000 for unleaded fuel price subsidies, while the latter has been awarded $576,000 for the development of unleaded fuel infrastructure.
“This funding will protect Colorado’s clean air by reducing lead emissions at our airports,” stated Governor Jared Polis. “By preserving and investing in our airports, we can ensure Coloradans and visitors can get where they need to go, while also protecting our clean air and reducing pollution.”
The investment comes in the wake of communities near airports voicing health concerns about exposure to leaded fuel. This exposure has been associated with:
- Elevated blood lead levels in children
- Impaired cognition
- Cardiovascular illness
Despite the ban on leaded gasoline in automobiles in the 1970s, it is still prevalently used in piston-engine aircraft. In 2026, the state has earmarked $973,800 to mitigate lead impacts, in accordance with Colorado House Bill 24-1235. Coupled with federal matching funds, the state’s investment will unlock over $172 million in total aviation funding.
Source: General Aviation News