Clay Lacy Aviation has become the first firm to receive a 4AIR sustainability rating of Facilities Neutral. The rating shows that the LA-based firm’s facilities have been operating carbon neutral since 2019.

“The Facilities Neutral rating affirms the sustainability strategy and actions taken by Clay Lacy Aviation to meet a carbon neutral level,” said 4AIR president Kennedy Ricci.

“After a thorough review and audit, we offer Clay Lacy stakeholders and its customers assurance that its programme has delivered in its goals of reducing its carbon footprint and procuring carbon offsets to attain carbon neutrality. Receiving the Facilities Neutral rating shows Clay Lacy’s industry leadership in achieving sustainability for its FBOs,” Ricci added.

As well as participating in carbon offset programmes, Clay Lacy also uses more than 30,000 square feet of solar panels at its LA headquarters, and is incorporating electric vehicle charging stations and LED lights.

Scott Cutshall, Clay Lacy’s senior vice president, Development and Sustainability, said: “4AIR’s rating is an industry-first framework to address greenhouse gas impact that offers a verifiable path to achieve meaningful emissions counteraction and reduction. This important third-party rating recognises that Clay Lacy’s thoughtful and proactive efforts are meeting our measurable goals, as we continue to work toward a sustainable future.”

After completing installation of a 500 kilowatt (kW) solar array in LA, as mentioned, Clay Lacy will now break ground on two new FBOs at Oxford-Waterbury Airport (OXC), Connecticut and John Wayne Airport (SNA), California that will also include a host of sustainable construction and operational practices.

Clay Lacy was also recently the first company certified to the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) Sustainability Standard for Aviation Businesses.