[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 134 (Monday, September 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1594-E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE OCCASION OF DEDICATING OAKLAND COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S 
                         NEW ``GREEN'' TERMINAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the leaders of 
Oakland County on the completion of Oakland County International 
Airport's new ``green'' terminal. This impressive accomplishment will 
undoubtedly enhance the service the airport provides to residents and 
businesses across Southeast Michigan. As a believer in the idea that 
economic development can be environmentally balanced, I am pleased to 
have advocated for national support of this project, which received 
federal resources to make this new terminal a reality.
  Following its construction in 1928, the Oakland County International 
Airport, OCIA, has been a symbol of the forward-thinking economic 
vision and entrepreneurial spirit upon which the county was founded. In 
1930, as a first-in-the-nation event, the OCIA was certified with an A-
1-A rating from the U.S. government and has since been an important 
component of the local economy.
  Today, the OCIA continues to play a significant role in the ongoing 
development of Southeast Michigan's economy. On an annual basis, the 
airport generates over $150 million in revenue which supports the 
operations of Oakland County and the broader region. In 2010 alone, the 
airport served over a half a million passengers and pilots. With almost 
120,000 departures and landings annually, the OCIA was the nation's 
twelfth busiest general aviation facility in 2010.
  In keeping with its status as a symbol of Oakland County's economic 
progress and forward-thinking vision, the new terminal for the

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OCIA has been LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council--the 
first airport in the nation to achieve this distinction. Among its 
``green'' features, the new terminal at OCIA boasts use of wind, solar 
and geothermal energy systems, which drastically reduce the 
environmental impact and cost of operating this regional economic 
engine. Additionally, the terminal includes recharging stations for 
electric vehicles and not only showcases the use of recycled materials 
in its construction, but also demonstrates recycling of rainwater for 
landscape irrigation use on the building's ``living'' wall.
  Mr. Speaker, this latest first-in-nation accomplishment of the 
Oakland County International Airport is truly a remarkable milestone 
and as a lifelong Oakland County resident, it is a source of great 
pride. This ``green'' terminal is not only a realization of Oakland 
County residents' continuing commitment to build a better future, but 
is also a model for the nation of the success that comes from the 
merging of economic development and environmentally sound building 
strategies.

                          ____________________