Swampscott Receives Grant to Convert to Energy-Efficient Streetlight Bulbs

Swampscott’s streetlights will receive an energy-efficient LED upgrade thanks in large part to a $225,000 state grant announced on Wednesday.

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) grant dollars are part of a nearly $8.9 million grant program that will benefit 51 Green Communities throughout the state as they pursue clean energy projects.

“Our administration is proud to help Green Communities reduce their energy use so they can reinvest their financial savings in schools, police, fire, municipal infrastructure and other local initiatives,” said Gov. Charlie Baker, a Swampscott resident.

In Swampscott, that potential reinvestment in the community is estimated to be about $52,000 annually, according to Town Planner Pete Kane. Last year, Swampscott spent $112,000 on street lighting.

Kane explained that the town plans to transition 1,414 town-owned streetlights to energy-efficient LED bulbs. Swampscott owns most of the lights in town with the exception of the metal lights along Humphrey Street, which National Grid owns.

“The Green Communities money will fund about half of the project,” Kane explained. “The remainder will largely be covered by utility incentives with the rest coming from town capital funds [which are] still to be requested.”

The project’s timeline is dependent on securing the needed town capital funds, Kane said. He anticipates the conversion taking place next year.

DOER’s Green Communities Competitive Grants go to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards, according to a statement.

The grants are funded through proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions and Alternative Compliance Payments under the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard.

In addition to Swampscott, the communities receiving grants during this cycle include: Acton, Acushnet, Amesbury, Andover, Arlington, Athol, Auburn, Bedford, Belchertown, Beverly, Boston, Bridgewater, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Easton, Gardner, Gloucester, Hanover, Harvard, Kingston, Lakeville, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Mashpee, Maynard, Melrose, Milton, Monson, Natick, Newburyport, Newton, Palmer, Provincetown, Revere, Rowe, Salem, Sherborn, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Truro, Watertown, Westford, Westwood, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn.