City Receives Grant Money For Street Light Conversion

 The City of Gig Harbor has received a grant from the State of Washington Transportation Improvement Board’s “Relight Washington’s Grant Program,” a program designed to lower city's street light costs by helping cities convert to more energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) streetlights.  The city has been approved to retrofit all of its 713 street lights from its energy hungry high pressure and metal halide type lights to high efficiency and long lasting LED types. The total project conversion cost is estimated to be $560k, with funding coming from the TIB grant, in the amount of $508k and another $52k in energy rebates. There is a zero dollar match requirement on behalf of the city.     

The city expects to realize a 60 percent monthly street lighting energy cost savings when this conversion is complete. Currently the city spends about $7,200 a month in city street lighting costs. City Administrator Ron Williams stated, “This is a great win-win; for the city and for the environment.”

City savings will equate to $4,320/monthly and a yearly total of $52k. A sustainable return on investment study conducted by TIB, found that cost, energy, and environmental benefits returned more than twice the installation expense over 15 years.  The city expects conversion to begin this summer followed by completion in fall.

For additional information about this grant or project please contact City of Gig Harbor Engineer Steve Misiurak, P.E., at (253) 853-7626.