KSC-2011-1149

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mike Benik, the director of Center Operations at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, addresses an audience at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new environmentally friendly Propellants North Administration and Maintenance Facility. Propellants North consists of two buildings, one to store cryogenic fuel transfer equipment and one to house personnel who support fueling spacecraft. The recently rebuilt buildings will be NASA's first carbon neutral facility, which means it will produce enough energy on site from renewable sources to offset what it requires to operate. The facility also will reach for the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Platinum status, which is the highest LEED rating. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett