Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the New York Power Authority finished $2.1 million in energy efficiency upgrades at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad North White Plains Train Yard.

The energy saving project, completed under the Gov. Cuomo's BuildSmart NY program, will save New York State more than $328,000 in energy costs and remove approximately 1,280 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

"These upgrades will make this facility greener, more energy efficient and will reduce its energy bill, saving the MTA and ultimately riders and taxpayers money," said Gov. Cuomo. "It is vital that we all take steps to help sustain the planet and through initiatives like BuildSmart NY, this administration will continue to support commonsense projects that save taxpayer dollars and make sense for the environment."

The project, which began last fall, instituted a number of comprehensive energy-saving and efficiency improvements at four major buildings throughout the train yard. These improvements included the replacement of several air-handling systems, a new boiler, electric smart meters, and a building energy monitoring and management system. This system will give the MTA a greater ability to track and curtail its energy use, as well as reduce operation and maintenance costs at the facility.

The New York Power Authority oversaw the project from an initial energy audit through its completion and provided upfront financing. The energy savings resulting from the project will offset the MTA's payments back to the New York Power Authority.

The New York Power Authority is actively partnering with MTA to improve energy efficiency and is currently moving forward with other efforts across multiple MTA facilities. Those energy-efficiency upgrades, when completed, will save more than 50,000 megawatt hours of electricity and nearly 103,000 gallons of fuel a year and eliminate almost 31,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Over the years, the New York Power Authority and MTA have partnered to complete 140 energy efficiency and clean energy projects, which have saved 138,000 megawatt hours of electricity, nearly 123,000 gallons of fuel a year and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by about 90,000 tons annually.

Launched in 2012, BuildSmart NY calls for an increase in energy efficiency in state government buildings by 20 percent by 2020. The initiative will save millions of dollars for taxpayers and create thousands of jobs while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, New Yorkers have saved tens of millions of dollars in utility costs under Build Smart NY.