Little Rock, Ark. – The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (Adams Field) has started installing a large geothermal well field that will provide heating and cooling for the terminal without relying on natural gas. The project is part of a broader overhaul of the airport’s utility systems and is slated to be fully operational when the new central utility plant is completed in the summer of 2027.
Project details and timeline
Work on the well field began in August 2025. Drilling and grouting of the wells were finished in May, according to David Finnie, the airport’s director of infrastructure development. Each well reaches about 500 feet below the surface, where temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year. By circulating water or another fluid through the wells, the stable underground temperature can be used to heat and cool the airport’s HVAC system.
Crews are grouping the wells into circuits of roughly 25 wells each. Each circuit connects to a vault that routes hot and cold water through the system. When the system is complete, water will circulate in a closed loop, providing efficient temperature control for the terminal while eliminating most natural‑gas consumption, except for restaurant cooking needs.
Future parking and utility plant
The well field occupies about six acres, roughly one‑third of the area planned for a new employee parking lot that will be built on top of the wells. Officials intend to construct the parking lot after the geothermal system is in place.
In parallel with the geothermal effort, the airport is building a new central utility plant. Relocating the airport’s utility infrastructure into this plant will free up space for a new arrivals hall and a post‑security common area. The plant’s construction is expected to finish in summer 2027, at which point the geothermal system will go online.
Funding and partners
The project is being funded through a combination of federal and state sources. In 2024, the airport received a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, part of a nearly $100 million award to a coalition of Arkansas regional planning organizations created by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Additional financing comes from a Federal Aviation Administration low‑emissions grant program and tax credits.
The total cost of the geothermal portion is estimated at about $39 million. The overall central utility plant project is being overseen by a joint venture between Clark Contractors of Little Rock and Con‑Real of Texas. Kentucky‑based Geothermal Earthworks is handling the majority of the geothermal work.
Impact on the community
Airport officials say the geothermal system will dramatically reduce the facility’s carbon footprint and operating costs. By eliminating natural‑gas use for heating and cooling, the airport expects lower utility bills and a more reliable energy source, benefits that could be passed on to travelers and local businesses that rely on the airport.
Local leaders have praised the project as a forward‑looking investment in sustainable infrastructure that aligns with Arkansas’s broader goals for energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
When the system is fully operational, the airport will join a growing number of transportation hubs across the country that are turning to geothermal technology as a clean, cost‑effective alternative to traditional fossil‑fuel‑based heating and cooling.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
