For Immediate Release: December 8, 2011
Media Contact: Percy D. Della - 916-654-4989
LED streetlights mean savings, safety for Marysville
They don't have the festive glow of holiday bulbs, but LED street lights translate to safety and savings for cities across California this season and beyond.
Because of their daylight-like brightness, LEDs (light emitting diodes) make neighborhoods safer at night while reducing the energy use of cities switching from traditional street lighting to energy-saving LED fixtures.
LED street lights are now shining on the city of Marysville, courtesy of a lighting upgrade funded by a block grant from federal stimulus funds.
The city retrofitted 15 percent of its streetlights mainly with a $69,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Administered by the California Energy Commission the ECBG program is intended to assist small cities and counties in their energy efficiency efforts.
A total of 176 high pressure 95-watt sodium vapor street lights were upgraded to 39-watt, brighter LEDs in western and southeastern Marysville.
The city intends to retrofit as many streetlights as possible as funds become available.
The lighting modernization project completed a year ago will enable the city to save $4,285 in electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30,000 pounds of CO2 every year.
# # #
Federal stimulus funds to small cities and counties awarded under the ARRA's Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) are providing more than $33 million to 201 eligible localities throughout California. Large cities and counties are receiving funding directly from the US DOE. For more information about ARRA funded programs, click on: www.energy.ca.gov/recovery
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. Created by the Legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, six basic responsibilities guide the Energy Commission as it sets state energy policy: forecasting future energy needs; licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger; promoting energy efficiency and conservation by setting the state's appliance and building efficiency standards; supporting public interest energy research that advances energy science and technology through research, development, and demonstration programs; developing renewable energy resources and alternative renewable energy technologies for buildings, industry and transportation; planning for and directing state response to energy emergencies.