MTA completes $25 million energy efficiency project at Grand Central

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completed a major energy efficiency project at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday.

Part of Cuomo's BuildSmart N.Y. initiative, the $25 million project included station enhancements aimed at conserving energy, such as installing cooling towers, air handling upgrades and new chillers for the station's cooling system. The project also added compressed air and steam distribution systems.

The largest such project in MTA's history, the effort is expected to save $2.5 million in annual energy costs at the station, state officials said.

MTA partnered the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to carry out the job, which began in 2012.

"Energy-saving projects, such as the one completed at Grand Central Terminal, have a critical impact in reducing our carbon footprint so future generations can enjoy a greener tomorrow," Cuomo said in a prepared statement.

MTA Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast added that the project involved no front costs to MTA Metro-North Railroad, which operates at Grand Central.

NYPA and MTA are working on other energy-conservation measures at the transit agency's facilities. They expect such projects to save more than 31,000 megawatt hours of electricity and 64,900 gallons of fuel per year.

The initiatives also would eliminate nearly 20,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually, officials said.