FAA on Thursday dedicated a new air traffic control tower at Palm Springs airport that incorporates "green" money-saving features.
The tower has been operational since July, though FAA officials traveled to the airport Thursday to celebrate the opening. The $25 million project was partially funded by a $13.9 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to replace a facility that had served the airport since 1967.
Some of the green features of tower include coated glass panels to reduce heat inside the controller work area and motion sensor-controlled lighting.
“Palm Springs is a vastly different airport than it was in 1967, and this new tower will give controllers better views of planes on the airfield and approaching the airport," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
In 2012, Palm Springs recorded 58,000 takeoffs and landings.