LED Street Lighting Installation Completes through Partnership between the New York Power Authority and the Town of Southampton 

For Immediate Release: 11/29/18

 

Contact:

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

Connie Conway (Southampton) | cconway@southamptontownny.gov | 631-702-1743

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) has completed the installation of energy-saving LED streetlights in the Town of Southampton. The energy efficiency project is part of Smart Street Lighting NY, a statewide program announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in his 2018 State of the State address that calls for at least 500,000 streetlights throughout the state to be replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) technology by 2025. The streetlight upgrade and replacement project will save Southampton taxpayers nearly $269,000 in annual energy and maintenance costs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 550 tons a year—the equivalent of taking more than 100 cars off the road.

 

“The Power Authority is coordinating with municipalities across the state to implement Governor Cuomo’s Smart Street Lighting NY program and it should be applauded that Southampton was one of the first towns in the state to embrace this impactful initiative,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “With the LED lighting installation now complete, Southampton can enjoy all the benefits of the new lighting and the energy and maintenance cost savings that accompany them.”

 

“The new LED lights program shines a light on our efforts in the Town of Southampton to become a more sustainable community,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. “I want to thank our Parks Director Kristen Doulos for her leadership in this effort.”

 

The $1.9 million lighting upgrade included the replacement of nearly 2,500 SMART streetlights and nearly 300 additional parking lot and decorative fixtures throughout the town. As part of the installation and in addition to the replacement of the existing streetlights, NYPA also increased the number of streetlights on a 1.3-mile section of Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton, increasing safety on a stretch of road that has high traffic from cars and pedestrians, especially in the summer months.

 

The town utilized funds awarded under the DASNY-SAM grant by Senator LaValle and Assemblyman Thiele for Bridgehampton hamlet traffic safety improvements to pay for the street lighting upgrades in Bridgehampton.

 

Senator Ken LaValle said, “I am pleased that the installation of energy-saving LED street lighting in Bridgehampton has been completed. The new streetlights offer greater pedestrian safety, are environmental friendly and operate at less taxpayer cost, while continuing to maintain the character of Bridgehampton.”

 

Assemblyman Fred Thiele stated, “It is gratifying to see the Town of Southampton complete this energy efficient street lighting project. Ultimately, the installation of these LED lights will provide a sustainable means of enhancing public safety, protecting the environment, and saving taxpayer dollars.”

 

Philips Lighting, the supplier of Southampton’s new LED streetlights, has agreed to a 10-year service contract for software and data support with the town. Philips is a strategic partner of NYPA’s in the implementation of Smart Street Lighting NY.

 

The Smart Street Lighting NY program 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 program directly supports the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV4NY) goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030, based on 1990 levels.

 

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.

 

For more information about the Governor’s Smart Street Lighting NY program, see this press release. To inquire about how Smart Street Lighting can help your municipality save on energy costs and to learn more about how Smart City technologies can benefit your community, visit NYPA’s Smart Street Lighting NY webpage.

 

 

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.

 

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.