New York Power Authority Announces Installation of Energy Efficient SMART LED Streetlights in Mount Vernon

For Immediate Release: 7/13/18

Contact:

Paul DeMichele | paul.demichele@nypa.gov | 914-390-8186

Replacement of 4,500 Streetlights to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2,500 Tons and Save $776,000 Annually

 

Part of Governor Cuomo’s Smart Street Lighting NY Program for 500,000 Street Lights to Be Converted to Energy-Saving LED Technology by 2025

 

View Video of the Smart Street Lighting NY Program

 

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced that SMART energy-saving LED streetlights will be installed throughout the City of Mount Vernon. The project is part of Smart Street Lighting NY, a statewide program by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that calls for at least 500,000 streetlights throughout the state to be replaced by energy-efficient LED technology by 2025. The program supports the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030, based on 1990 levels.

 

“Smart Street Lighting NY is a win-win for everyone, and the Power Authority is proud to help our customers simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “We thank our partners for working with us on this important initiative and are excited to meet or exceed Governor Cuomo’s goal of installing 500,000 streetlights throughout the State by 2025.”

 

The $3.5 million project, financed and implemented by NYPA in partnership with the City of Mount Vernon, includes the removal of the existing light fixtures and the installation of approximately 4,500 SMART energy-efficient LED fixtures throughout the city. The streetlight upgrade and replacement will save Mount Vernon taxpayers an annual $776,000 in energy and maintenance costs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2,500 tons a year—the equivalent of taking 530 cars off the road. Installation of the new lights is expected to begin later this summer.

 

Mount Vernon was offered a wide-array of lighting options to help meet its needs, including specifications on the lights to incorporate SMART technology, which can be used for dozens of other functions, such as cameras and other safety features, weather sensors, Wi-Fi and energy meters.

 

Through coordination between NYPA and the city, technology was selected for the new fixtures to provide additional value by further lowering energy costs through lighting schedules and data analysis of energy usage; expediting maintenance through remote outage notifications; and providing additional tools for emergency services through on-demand enhanced light levels.

 

Smart Street Lighting NY has the potential to reduce energy consumption across the state by 482 gigawatt hours annually—the equivalent of nearly 45,000 households—saving taxpayers $87 million a year, drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the quality of light and safety of communities across the state.

 

The Power Authority is working with cities, towns, villages and counties throughout New York to fully manage and implement a customer’s transition to LED streetlight technology. NYPA provides upfront financing for the project, with payments to NYPA made in the years following from the cost-savings created by the reduced energy use of the LED streetlights. NYPA is also willing to finance the purchase of street lighting systems from a municipality’s utility if needed.

 

NYPA has installed—or is in the process of installing—32,000 LED streetlights at municipalities across the state.

 

To learn more about Smart Street Lighting NY, visit the program webpage on NYPA’s website.

 

Reforming the Energy Vision

Reforming the Energy Vision is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York's economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and requiring 50 percent of the state's electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030. Already, REV has driven growth of more than 1,000 percent in the statewide solar market, improved energy affordability for 1.65 million low-income customers, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and achieves the internationally recognized target of reducing emissions 80 percent by 2050. To learn more about REV, including the Governor's $5 billion investment in clean energy technology and innovation, visit rev.ny.gov, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

 

About NYPA

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.