Streetlight initiative paying off, Noble says
The installation of energy-saving LED fixtures in Kingston streelights is progressing slowly, but the city already is saving money, Mayor Steve Noble says.
“We have been collaborating with the Mid-Hudson Street Light Consortium on this project and are moving along, but we are still working on some of the logistics of this project,” Noble said in an email. “In the meantime, DPW (the city Department of Public Works) and its contractors have installed over 150 LED (light-emitting diode) streetlights.”
“Also, due to the purchase of the streetlights last year from Central Hudson, we have saved over $275,000,” Noble said.
The city bought 2,012 streetlights and fixtures from Poughkeepsie-based Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. for about $470,000 in April 2017. The city already owned 408 streetlights.
Noble said LED bulbs have been installed im ore than 150 streetlights so far out of the expected total of 2,420.
Noble said he was heartened by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new streetlight initiative.
“I am pleased with Governor Cuomo’s recent announcement of the Smart Street Lighting NY initiative, which ensures that our efforts are consistent and aligned with the statewide goal of replacing street
lights with LED lighting,” Noble said. “We are conferring with our partners at the state level to determine if the governor’s initiative will have any impact on our project. Either way, we will continue to move this effort forward.”
The Kingston Common Council in October 2015 approved borrowing up to $2.1 million to install
LED streetlights throughout Kingston. That decision was made before Noble took office.
The council previously approved borrowing $105,000 for engineering and design work for the project.
City officials have estimated the changeover will save the city about $400,000 per year.