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Authorize the Town Manager to Enter into an Agreement with Duke Energy to Convert All Chapel Hill Street Lights to Energy-Saving LED Fixtures.
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Staff:
Department:
Lance Norris, Director
Public Works
Kumar Neppalli, Traffic Engineering Manager
John Richardson, Community Resilience Officer
Manager's Office
Overview: Duke Energy owns and operates 3,605 street lights in Chapel Hill through an agreement with the Town. About 10% (376) of those street lights are currently energy-saving LED (light emitting diode) fixtures. We estimate that by converting the remainder of our street lights to LEDs, we would reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions more than 830 metric tons. This represents an estimated 5.5% emissions reduction from Town operations, equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 140 homes in a year.
Staff developed two options for the Council to consider. While they are on different timelines, both options provide uniform lighting color throughout the town, enhance visibility for community safety, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize waste from lighting maintenance. Staff recommends Option A because this allows for a faster transition of all street lights to LED fixtures and thereby helps to address the urgency of climate change.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Duke Energy to convert all street lights in Chapel Hill to energy-saving LED light fixtures under Option A.
Decision Points:
* Should the Town begin the street light conversion this fiscal year or wait until next fiscal year to consider budgeting for the full conversion cost related to decorative fixtures? See the Technical Memorandum for a discussion and possible options related to this question.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: See Technical Memorandum.
Attachments:
* Technical Memorandum
* Resolution
Technical Memorandum September 19, 2019
Prepared by Town...
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