$16M project to replace Pittsburgh streetlights with LEDs gains final approval

Pittsburgh’s 35,000 streetlights will be converted to LEDs as part of a $16 million project approved Monday by City Council.

Proponents say the conversion will be environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, though some council members have questioned whether the lights will be reliable and popular with residents.

The project could cut energy costs by $1 million per year, Mayor Bill Peduto’s office has said. The mayor’s office said the new lights are more durable and could reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

LED technology has improved in recent years, making the lights less prone to go out or create strobing effects, issues other cities have contended with after similar projects, Angie Martinez, senior Right-of-Way manager for the Department of Public Works, told City Council last week.

City officials will contract with The Efficiency Network, a subsidiary of Duquesne Light Holdings, to replace the LEDs. The contract also will include a survey to identify where additional streetlights could be installed in neighborhoods where there are few or none — though installing new lights in places that don’t currently have them is not part of the current contract.

The measure will replace 4,000 LED streetlights that already exist in the city with the new fixtures.

The Efficiency Network also will help the city renegotiate its energy bill for streetlights under the contract.

The city is currently in a fixed contract with Duquesne Light, meaning they pay a set amount for streetlights, rather than paying a bill based on energy use. The plan is to renegotiate the contract based on the new energy-saving LED fixtures, Martinez said.

Councilwoman Deb Gross argued against using The Efficiency Network to renegotiate a contract with its sister company. She also has voiced concerns about problems with similar LED streetlights that the company has installed in other cities.

Gross was the only opposing vote on Monday. She said she felt the energy companies lauding LED lights were “overly optimistic” about the technology and said there were lessons they should take from other cities where similar measures went over badly.

The Efficiency Network has not returned requests for comment on the contract.

All other council members present Monday voted in favor of the contract with The Efficiency Network. Council members Corey O’Connor and Erika Strassburger were not present.