Newtown Township Considering Move To LED Streetlighting

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — LED lighting could be coming to Newtown Township as early as next year.

The supervisors voted unanimously at its last meeting to move into the design phase of a project that could eventually lead to 152 cobrahead streetlights and more than 1,200 four-sided decorative Colonial fixtures being converted over to LED lighting.

"This is really a one-for-one fixture replacement," said Keystone Lighting Solutions' Michael Fuller, a technical advisor to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's Regional Street Lighting Procurement Program in speaking before the board of supervisors.

The design phase, which will cost the township $37,500, will include a full GIS-based audit that will include data, standard and lighting designs, final project specifications, analysis and program-wide leveraged unit pricing. From there the supervisors will decide whether to move forward with the conversion.

The conversion, said Fuller, would result in significant financial savings to the township in both energy and maintenance.

"Unlike many projects that you have to expend money for, the street light program is actually going to pay you back over time or pay for itself over time through those operational cost savings," he said.

LEDs, said Fuller, are also much more controllable, which can keep light from going up into the sky, which is important, he said, for Dark Skies consideration.

"It basically allows us to get the light to where it needs to be - shining on the highways and sidewalks for safety purposes," Fuller said.

Throughout the four phases of the project, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission provides the resources needed to complete the work through its Regional Street Lighting Procurement Program.

The program offers municipal participants reduced product and labor pricing, a common step-by-step program timeline, access to financing, if needed, and technical and legal assistance in designing and implementing projects.

Since its launch, Fuller said more than 70 municipalities have participated in the program, upgrading more than 30,000 street lights and reducing energy costs in the counties surrounding Philadelphia. Newtown Township would be included in the fourth round of the project.

By converting to LED, Fuller said the township would reduce its energy and maintenance costs by $43,000 a year, pay off the cost of the conversion and begin to net the energy savings around the 16th year.

In 20 years, the conversation will net the township $172,000 a year in savings, he said, which is money that can be spent on other township projects.

"We do have quicker payback periods, but your mix of decoratives is somewhat unique. Most municipalities have a lot of cobraheads, which are cheaper. But within that 20 year period it's going to pay for itself through those operating cost savings," said Fuller.

Chairman Dennis Fisher expressed disappointment with the payback period. "I was hoping for 10 to 12 years," he said.

"I like the idea of switching to LED lights. I think it's the way to go," added Supervisor Kyle Davis. "I'm concerned with the amount it's going to cost. What advantage do we get from going with this program then replacing them ourselves?"

"You're going to pay much, much less doing it through our program compared to going on your own," said Fuller. "What DVRPC did with a massive RFP they put out to procure all these costs really drove the price down below market level."

Supervisor Phil Calabro raised concern with the number of variables involved, including the cost of electricity and the upkeep of the fixtures that could impact the return on investment in the longer term.

Fuller assured Calabro that the number of LED failures over a 20 year period is going to be very low. "I also want to point out that if energy rates go up, you're savings go up. That would be to your benefit," he said.

The design phase is expected to begin this month and be complete by the end of the summer. The township will then decide whether to move forward with construction, which would begin toward the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The project would be completed by the end of the first quarter in 2024.