The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
LED streetlight conversion project underway
ONEIDA, N. Y. » The city of oneida is getting a whole lot brighter as a $ 700,000 LED streetlight conversion project is underway.
The entire city and its around 900 streetlights will be getting the upgrade; about half have already gotten the switch. Residents can take- in the new lights already installed on a majority of side streets and on decorative poles near the Rail Trail across from city hall.
Assistant City Engineer Benjamin Smith says that the new lights will pay for themselves in 10 years time due to their energy efficiency.
“A lot of the older lights, they drew a lot of power, and these LEDS will be easier to control the lighting in different areas and neighborhoods, and it’ll give us a good deal of energy savings throughout the city.”
The LED conversion project was first initiated back in 2017. After the city worked through all the National Grid and NYS requirements, plans were finalized this past spring, Smith says. The project is considered “essential” in Mayor Helen Acker’s proposed 2021 budget, meaning that it won’t get trimmed or pushed back in scheduling should her budget be approved. The streetlight conversion is expected to be completed by spring 2021 is all goes to plan, according to Smith.
At the project’s end, Oneida will own all of the streetlight poles through a pole- buyback program. National Grid currently owns the poles and leases them to the city.
The lights may appear whiter in tone than their predecessor, and they will also come with a dim- setting for the city to utilize as appropriate, whether for practical use or certain events.
Streetlights are essential to public safety namely by enhancing visibility, but many also believe they can deter crime, officials noted,