Chelan PUD Studies Switch To LED Streetlights

Chelan County PUD commissioners are considering the safety benefits and the cost effectiveness of replacing streetlights owned by cities, Chelan County and the PUD with energy efficient LEDs, or light emitting diodes.

In a press release, PUD Energy Development and Conservation manager Andrew Grassell said the biggest safety benefit from LED streetlights is improved lighting.  Focusing light where it is needed is much easier with LED lighting and also reduces light pollution.  The energy efficient LEDs last longer, cost less to maintain and there are state grants available to help with the cost of replacing the old streetlights.  Grassell told commissioners at Tuesday's board meeting there is a unique opportunity to combine grant funding with PUD incentives to upgrade lighting to LED's throughout the county.

Grassell says the cities are interested and a PUD survey estimated a switch to LED lighting would save enough electricity to power about 150 homes.  Grassell pointed out the cost to achieve those savings would be about $1.9 million with state grant funding of up to $920,000 currently available.

For the lighting project to proceed, PUD commissioners would need to approve new streetlight agreements with local governments and a call for bids. If approved, installation could be sometime in 2018