Danvers Receives State Funding to Convert Streetlights to LEDs

DANVERS, MA – Governor Charlie Baker's administration announced $11.4 million for a Municipal LED Streetlight Conversion Program on Dec. 13. The state funding will be dispensed to 33 cities and towns. to convert traditional streetlights to LED bulbs. Danvers has been chosen as one of the communities, and will receive the money in the upcoming months. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has already helped outfit 60,000 streetlights in 25 communities with energy-efficient LED fixtures. LED streetlights, according to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER), are more energy efficient, have a longer shelf life, and save municipalities more money than traditional bulbs.

“Investing in LED streetlight conversions will lead to reduced energy costs and better road safety for motorists and municipalities across Massachusetts,” said Baker. “The partnership between the Commonwealth and our regional planning authorities and municipal light plants will help maximize the positive benefits of this grant funding.” According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) converting streetlights to LED bulbs uses up to 60% less energy than standard streetlights.

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito at the Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke

(Image courtesy of Department of Environmental Resources)

Baker signed an Executive Order outlining his approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change on residents, municipalities and businesses.

“Governor Baker’s Executive Order on climate change strategy emphasizes the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to reducing energy usage and emissions in order to prepare for the effects of climate change across Massachusetts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton in a statement, “By converting tens of thousands of streetlights from traditional bulbs to highly efficient LEDs, the Commonwealth and our municipal partners will take another important step towards meeting our Global Warming Solutions Act emissions reduction goals.”

The 2008 pledge created a framework for reducing heat-trapping emissions, and requires reductions from all sectors of the economy to reach a target of a 25% reduction of GHGs by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050.

Image from Creative Commons