Lindsay Henderson

Communications & Energy Efficiency Analyst

(508) 744-1273

lhenderson@capelightcompact.org

PRESS RELEASE

BREAKING NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 17, 2013

LED Streetlights Shine The Way To Energy Savings

BARNSTABLE—Beginning today, as part of a demonstration project, new energy saving light emitting diode (LED) streetlights will be installed in selected residential and commercial areas around all Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard towns.  Cape Light Compact has worked with officials and staff from all towns, and fire districts, who own their municipal streetlights, to select four existing contiguous poles in a residential area and four existing contiguous poles in a commercial area that will be changed to the new LED streetlights.  “This pilot phase will help us gain experience with the new technology and gather public feedback in advance of rolling out the complete retrofit of nearly all 14,000 municipal streetlights across the Cape and Vineyard in 2014”, states Kevin Galligan, Program Manager.

LED technologies are designed to use 40 – 50% less energy and last longer than older high pressure sodium or mercury vapor streetlights, thereby lowering municipal budget maintenance costs.

Cape Light Compact has included this initiative as part of its 2013-2015 energy efficiency plan and estimates energy savings of over $500,000 per year when the full retrofit of all municipal owned streetlights is complete in 2014.  The benefits of energy and maintenance savings over the extended life of LEDs will provide a cost-effective return for the estimated investment of approximately $5 million.

The public can follow the installation schedule and provide feedback on the new LED streetlights by visiting the project webpage at www.capelightcompact.org/ledstreetlights.

About Cape Light Compact

Cape Light Compact is an intergovernmental organization consisting of the 21 towns and two counties on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.  The Compact’s mission is to serve our 200,000 customers through the delivery of proven energy efficiency programs, effective consumer advocacy, competitive electricity supply and green power options.  For more information, visit www.capelightcompact.org or call 1-800-797-6699.

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