Energy Efficient Traffic Signals to Be Installed in New Rochelle Through NY Power Authority Program

Contact
Connie Cullen
1-914-390-8196
connie.cullen@nypa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2005

NEW ROCHELLE—Beginning today over 2,700 energy-efficient traffic signals will be installed here with assistance from the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The first installation will be at the intersection of Main St. and Memorial Highway with all new fixtures expected to be in place by this June. These installations are among the first in Westchester County along with work in the City of Peekskill as part of NYPA’s LED Traffic Signal Program.

“Making many of our traffic and cross walk signals easier to see will clearly save New Rochelle taxpayers money through lower energy and maintenance costs plus keep the air cleaner by reducing energy use,” said Tim Idoni, mayor, City of New Rochelle. “This project represents New Rochelle’s continuing efforts to work with Governor George E. Pataki and the Power Authority to improve our city.”

“New Rochelle’s Mayor Idoni and his fellow leaders show their vision for a brighter future by participating in Governor Pataki’s initiative encouraging local governments to follow his mandate to state agencies to reduce their energy use by 35% by 2010,” said Eugene W. Zeltmann, president and chief executive officer, NYPA. “When cities like New Rochelle, and towns and villages statewide work with NYPA to be more energy-savvy, we can reduce energy use, save taxpayer dollars, breathe cleaner air and lessen dependence on foreign oil.”

Using the existing signal light housings, the new lighting technology consists of green, red, yellow and white precision-lensed light emitting diode (LED) modules to replace the current incandescent bulbs that use colored filters or lens. The LED signals have a longer operating life and lower maintenance cost, consume about 90% less energy and use no filters or lens.

NYPA has been involved in a wide variety of LED signal projects including work with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the New York City Rail Transit, and also installing energy efficient traffic signals in various parts of New York City.

Project management is conducted by NYPA staff, while the material and labor contracts were awarded by NYPA through competitive bid for timely and cost-effective installation. NYPA provides full turn-key services and finances the total cost of these LED traffic signal projects at very low interest rates. Verde Electric Corporation of Mount Vernon will perform installation and labor for the projects in New Rochelle and Peekskill. Municipalities have a payback period of usually less than five years depending on the quantity and signal types to be installed.

The City of New Rochelle and its School District are government customers of the Power Authority and receive some of the lowest cost electricity in the state for operations. Since the early 1990s, NYPA has invested almost $2 million in energy efficiency improvements at 9 New Rochelle facilities including several municipal facilities and schools. These initiatives have annually saved taxpayers over $1.5 million in municipal electric costs, reduced energy use by almost 800 kilowatts per year and eliminated over 1,500 tons of greenhouse gases each year contributing to cleaner air.

NYPA is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility. The Power Authority owns and operates 17 generating facilities across New York. NYPA also owns and operates over 1,400 circuit miles of transmission lines in various parts of the state. NYPA is a national leader in advancing energy efficiency, clean energy technologies and electric vehicles.