Street lighting may soon become safer, less expensive and more energy efficient under a proposal to lease LED street lights to replace conventional bulbs throughout town.
Department of Public Works Director Bill Chenard told selectmen this week that he is working with Arlington, Chelsea and possibly Woburn on a program to replace conventional bulbs with more efficient LEDs, or light-emitting diodes.
Natick would own the bulbs and be responsible for maintenance, but use the lease as a financing mechanism. The lease would allow workers to install the bulbs in 2,250 of the town’s 2,400 street lights by the end of the year, helping the town to secure a $143,000 grant from NStar that might expire if the lights are not installed, Chenard said.
Town Administrator Martha White said Thursday the town may eventually convert the 10-year lease to a bond, depending on interest rates.
White praised Chenard for being on the forefront of a movement toward LED technology, working with NStar to create a lower hourly charge for the LED street lights than for conventional lighting.
Chenard said the LEDs are estimated to pay for themselves in six years and last up to 10 times longer than traditional lights.
"This is a win, win, win," White said.
Some of the lights not covered under this plan already have LED bulbs. The town first experimented with LED street lights four years ago, Chenard said.
Through the partnership with the other communities, the changeover is expected cost less than $400 per light including installation, compared to more than $800 per light excluding installation costs under previous estimates, he said.
White said by banding together the communities can take advantage of bulk purchasing.
LED lights also improve safety, making it easier for drivers to see pedestrians and cyclists and police to read license plates, Chenard said.
"What we have out there now is poor color … light," he said. "They’re yellow. They’re all over the place."
Selectmen Chairman Paul Joseph said the program seems to make sense for many reasons.
"This sounds like no-brainer," he said.
The lease is expected to be before Town Meeting in October.