Title
Authorizing City Council's Joint Committees on the Environment and Streets and Services to hold public hearings to investigate the benefits of installing energy efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LED) streetlights, reducing annual energy payments associated with streetlights, encouraging local manufacturing of LED streetlights, and financing capital purchases with proceeds from energy savings.
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has over 118,000 street lights; and
WHEREAS, The City pays more than $13 million annually for electricity to power streetlights; and
WHEREAS, The City pays nearly over $2 million annually to maintain and service streetlights; and
WHEREAS, The current streetlights operated by the City contain trace amounts of hazardous materials that will require more expensive disposal in coming years; and
WHEREAS, Cities such as Los Angeles, CA and Wilmington, DE have shown green leadership by installing new LED streetlights; and
WHEREAS, LED streetlights produce better downward focused light and less night sky pollution; and
WHEREAS, New LED streetlights use 50% less power and last two times longer than the City's current streetlights, which would significantly reducing the City's carbon footprint; and
WHEREAS, New 100% recyclable LED lights could be manufactured in the City, creating new employment opportunities and additional tax revenue for the City, and
WHEREAS, By installing LED streetlights, the City could save more than $5 million annually in energy costs and an additional $5 million in maintenance costs over five years; and
WHEREAS, The cost of purchasing and installing new LED streetlights could be financed through recovery such energy savings; now, therefore, be it
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Joint Committees on the Environment and Streets and Services to hold public hearings to investigate the feasibility of encouraging the manufacture and installation of green LED streetlights throughout the city to reduce energy costs, reduce maintenance and associated costs, and extend the quality of streetlights in the City.
End