New York’s Empire State Building is now 100% powered by wind energy, following the signing of a contract between the iconic property’s manager, Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT), and US developer Green Mountain Energy.

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The three-year deal will see the edifice, which underwent a ten-year, $550m retrofit that has resulted in a 40% reduction in energy use and emissions, powered as part of an overall supply of 300 million kWh of renewable energy to ESRT’s portfolio, which will save emissions equivalent to taking “all New York City taxis [off the street] for one year”.

“ESRT is viable example of how to scale carbon neutral technologies, strategies and policies to balance with an effective economic business case,” said Dana Robbins Schneider, director of energy at ESRT.

“We have purchased renewable power from Green Mountain Energy for the Empire State Building, for a decade,” she said. “We now expand that to all properties in New York State with an additional direct energy contract for our Connecticut properties. Our tenants now work in carbon neutral offices.”

ESRT’s portfolio totals more than 10 million square foot (1 million m2) of property. Green Mountain first began supply clean-energy to the Empire State building in 2011.

“At Green Mountain, we’re encouraged by the vocal advocacy from ESRT that continues to lead New York’s transition to renewable energy,” said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy’s vice president.

“As the longest-serving competitive green energy provider, our mission is to use the power of consumer choice to change the way power is made, and we are committed to helping New Yorkers reduce their carbon footprint.”