Streetlight Conversion Project Begins In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown’s conversion to LED streetlights is underway and will be completed by the end of the year, Mayor Ben Florsheim announced on Monday. Florsheim said the new lights will use significantly less energy than halogen bulbs and are projected to save taxpayers around $200,000 per year.

The construction phase of the LED streetlight conversion project began Monday. About 5,000 streetlights will be converted from conventional lighting to the more energy-efficient LED lighting. The new streetlights are expected to last five times longer than the current streetlights.

“The LED streetlight conversion project is perhaps the single most effective energy efficiency opportunity available to the city, which is why we’ve made it a priority and why I’m so excited about getting this conversion underway,” Florsheim said in a statement. “I am grateful to the city personnel who were integral to the execution of this project, including former Mayor Dan Drew, Public Works Director Bill Russo, and Energy Coordinator Michael Harris. Under my administration, we will continue to aggressively pursue creative, cost-saving ways to reduce our carbon footprint and build a sustainable future.”

The project is aligned with the long-term goals and values established in the City of Middletown Energy Plan, which was written in the summer of 2019 and approved by the Middletown Common Council.

The LED streetlight conversion project “reduces the energy needed to power the city’s streetlights by more than half, resulting in a significant reduction in the cost to energize the lights,” according to a news release. “The use of more energy-efficient lighting also greatly reduces the carbon footprint of the city’s lighting.”

A referendum was passed in 2018 that approved the dollar value for the city to acquire the funds for the project through bond issuance. The city has been in the auditing and design phase of the project for much of the past year. Tanko Lighting was selected to handle the project following a request for proposal that was issued in 2019.

Officials said Tanko Lighting is an expert in this type of conversion project and also offered the lowest price. Tanko Lighting has worked with Middletown officials in identifying all city-owned streetlights, and designing light replacements that are optimized with LED technology.

The total estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million, and the city will use an energy efficiency utility incentive of around $500,000, resulting in a net cost to the city of about $1 million, according to officials.

“The project will result in significant energy cost savings, estimated at over $200,000 per year, with additional savings through reduced maintenance costs associated with this type of energy-efficient lighting,” officials wrote in a news release. “It is projected that the annual savings resulting from the use of energy-efficient lighting will more than cover the bond payments. Once the $1,000,000 bond is fully paid off over the 10-year term, the city will continue to benefit from the yearly savings of using more efficient lighting.

“Future potential projects in alignment with the City of Middletown Energy Plan include interior lighting upgrades in all schools and municipal buildings, and ongoing mechanical improvements that produce energy savings, all of which will increase use of renewable energy and contribute to reduction in the city’s carbon footprint.”