Weymouth LED Streetlight Program At Completion

Weymouth, MA – In mid-November, the Town of Weymouth began installation of new LED streetlights as part of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) LED Streetlight Conversion Program. The Town is now finishing the final review of the installed LED lights as the program concludes. The installation consists of 4,000 lights including cobraheads or traditional streetlights. Residents will see utility trucks completing final inspections as part of the “punch list” review. The lights are anticipated to save the town in excess of $250,000 per year as well as use less energy, in line with other green initiatives adopted by the Town.

“The installation of the LED streetlights marks the completion of another initiative aligned with the Town’s goals to reduce energy usage while also bringing in long-term cost savings,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund. “This project, in tandem with our adopted energy policies, green communities designation, and use of electric vehicles and charging stations, helps Weymouth see long-term cost savings through these grant-funded programs”. 

About the Program

In 2017, the Town adopted the LED Streetlight Conversion Program as a cost-effective measure not only to realize long-term savings through the reduction of energy consumption and longer-lasting infrastructure but also to better illuminate streets and roadways to increase road safety for motorists and pedestrians. The grant funding covers about 25 percent of total material and labor costs for the streetlight conversions, equal to a total award of approximately $330,000.

The LED Streetlight Conversion Program is funded through DOER and helps communities convert traditional streetlights to longer-lasting, brighter LED streetlights. DOER partnered with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the regional planning agency for Greater Boston, to identify vendors that could conduct the retrofit for the new street lights. Weymouth is among 40 other Massachusetts municipalities benefitting from the program.

Through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process led by MAPC, Weymouth awarded a contract to Tanko Lighting for streetlight audit, design, and engineering services. A streetlight audit and improved design results in fewer areas that are over- or under-lit. After the completion of those services, controllers and software were procured and awarded to CIMCON Lighting. In the last phase of the process, Coviello Electric, Inc. was awarded the contract to install over 4,000 lights including cobraheads (traditional streetlights), decorative light fixtures, and flood lights throughout Town. The Town selected GE light fixtures that are distributed by GrayBar Electric. The LED lights will reduce light pollution because of the shape of the lens and will better illuminate areas than traditional high pressure sodium lights due to the difference in the color of the light. All vendors awarded the contracts for services were evaluated through the RFP process and vetted through communications with other communities currently under contract for the services. They all received quality recommendations from participating communities.

In 2016, the Baker-Polito administration approved over $11 million in grant funds for the LED Streetlight Conversion program. In 2017, an additional $4.3 million in grant funding was administered to the partnering municipalities. Weymouth will benefit from this grant funding which will cover the cost of 25 percent of the materials and installation of the new streetlights. The total program will see a return on investment in just three and half years, resulting in cost-savings for the town after the initial investment in the program is recuperated.