Buffalo to replace street lights with LEDs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The City of Buffalo is looking to replace the streets lights from the high pressure sodium lights to LED lighting. The costs of LED is dropping because manufactures are making more.

As of now, there are 32,000 lights through the city. The city owns the pole but National Grid own 99 percent of the light fixtures themselves or the luminaire. National Grid does not currently offer an LED luminaire.

"That relationship is that there is a lease for that light, they are responsible for when that light goes out to put that light back on," explained Public Works Commissioner Steve Stepniak.

That means the city cannot replace all of the lights to LEDs. There would also be an early termination fee with National Grid for replacing the lamps and taking ownership.

"So we took charge as a city in our major projects on Clinton, Lovejoy, Carlton. We are going to replacing those old fixtures, those old high pressure sodiums, and we are going to an LED light that we are going to control. So the only thing we have to pay for is the energy. It's just the energy cost for us, which will be about 50 to 60 percent savings," Stepniak said.

Ellicott Street will be the first to see the new lights. The upfront costs are expensive but the lights will pay for themselves over a five-year period.

There is design work that needs to be considered as well. The LEDs are unable to be placed in the old street lamps because of the difference in how the light is distributed.

"It can be a better light, if it's designed properly it can be a clear light and eliminate dark spaces between lighting. It's clearer and it's much more green," said Stepniak.

Even once National Grid does provide LED lighting, the city may still look to take ownership. They will do what is most cost effective.