The Avondale City Council recently approved an energy-savings agreement to replace 8,002 of the city’s street lights with LEDs, a project the city says will save taxpayers over $2.14 million over the next 20 years. 

Through an agreement with Ameresco, the city will begin replacing its high-pressure sodium fixtures with LEDs, which are expected to reduce the city’s electricity consumption by 3,069 kilowatt hours per year, according to the city. The savings is equivalent to the energy use of 247 households. The project also includes replacing 181 of the city’s streetlight poles. It is expected to be completed by June.

“Transitioning to LED streetlights has several direct benefits to the city and its taxpayers, which include reduced annual operating and maintenance expenses, increased nighttime visibility to promote a safer community, and an approximate 50 percent reduction in energy use,which aligns with the city's sustainability goals,” Avondale's Environmental & Sustainability program manager Drew Bryck said in a press release. “In fact, residents will have already seen new LEDs on Avondale streets as the city began installing LED fixtures on capital street projects throughout 2016. This project will build on that momentum.”

A portion of the project will be paid for through a tax exempt equipment lease/purchase agreement with Banc of America Public Corp., which the City Council also recently approved.