Mayor Don Guardian has signed an agreement with Atlantic City Electric to upgrade over 5,638 streetlights with high energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) technology at no cost to the City.
Mayor Guardian stated, “The City thanks the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Atlantic City Electric for helping to make this transition to LED lighting a reality. This project is part of a concerted effort to provide better lighting in our neighborhoods and to improve public safety throughout the City.”
The total cost of the conversion is $750,000 which is fully funded by a grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Atlantic City Electric will continue to maintain the lights and replace them when needed under its LED streetlight pricing plan.
“The Board is happy to help the City of Atlantic City upgrade to new high energy efficient LED streetlights that will greatly improve lighting, make the community safer and produce significant energy cost saving for the City,” said NJBPU President Richard S. Mroz. “Energy efficiency projects like this also reduce demands on the grid which help to lower electric costs for all ratepayers.”
This project includes all the streetlights that are owned by Atlantic City Electric in the City. The City has been working with Atlantic City Electric for four years to inventory the lights and develop this program. Atlantic City will be the first major City in New Jersey to convert its entire City to LED technology.
“The effort will enhance public safety in Atlantic City by upgrading our street lights with all new state of the art fixtures. We are very proud to work closely with our partners the City of Atlantic City and the BPU” stated Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. “LED streetlight technology is one example of how we are advancing innovative technologies that are transforming the future energy experience for our customers.”
Atlantic City Electric has ordered the equipment needed to make the conversion and expects to commence installation in late November.
The BPU has awarded Atlantic City a $2 million grant to fund the design and implementation of a City-wide conversion of street lighting to LED technology. The remaining funds will leverage the conversion of City-owned street lights.
The second phase of this project will result in the conversion of another 3,283 City owned lights in the City. Most of the City owned lights are near City facilities. Atlantic City will also participate in NJ’s Clean Energy Program’s NJ SmartStart program for the second phase, which offers incentives for remodeling, renovation, equipment replacement, new construction and additions for commercial, industrial and local government facilities. Under the CEP SmartStart Buildings program, the incentive for LED street lights ranges from $50-$100 per light, depending on the product utilized.
Atlantic City currently budgets approximately $2 million annually for energy to light its streets. With LED lights installed City wide, this cost should be reduced. The City has made a concert effort to reduce energy cost by installing solar panels at the public works complex, solar lighting at Browns Park, LED lighting along the Boardwalk and completing an energy audit and upgrades at many city buildings. The City plans to issue a request for proposal to develop a solar farm on Duck Island and is working on creating a microgrid to provide energy to critical facilities during power outages.
