At the 3rd St./Washington light rail station in downtown Phoenix, passengers can now enjoy the chill of a solar-powered cooling system as they wait for the next train. The system, which launched last summer, is being activated earlier than scheduled due to the heat spike. The system typically operates May 1 through September 30.
Via a public-private partnership between the city of Phoenix, Metro light rail and NRG Energy, Inc., the company’s NRG Thermal and NRG Solar subsidiaries built the innovative system using solar power and the company’s downtown district cooling system. The district cooling system also air-conditions such prominent downtown facilities as Chase Field, Symphony Hall and the Phoenix Convention Center.
The 3rd St./Washington station is a highly-trafficked platform thanks to the busyness of downtown Phoenix and especially during Arizona Diamondbacks games. The station features push buttons near each seating area that provides blasts of cool air on demand.
