Duke upgrading more than 600 Greencastle streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs

The future is looking brighter for Greencastle neighborhoods these days.

That’s partially because Duke Energy has begun converting more than 600 streetlights across the city of Greencastle to brighter, more-efficient LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

The new, energy-efficient lights are replacing decades-old light fixtures, resulting in significant energy and cost savings for the city, Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory said.

“We appreciate Duke Energy’s Energy Efficiency LED Rebate Program that made this project financially feasible,” Mayor Dory said. “Our residents will benefit from enhanced safety due to the better quality and longer-lasting LED fixtures. We expect to see far fewer lighting outages after the completion of the project.”

City Hall has actually received one complaint that the lights are “too bright,” Mayor Dory told the City Council at its May meeting. Other residents have responded that they “didn’t know they had a streetlight in their neighborhood” until the new lights took effect.

Taking note of the project, Greencastle City Council members expressed approval of the brighter lights at their most recent session. It’s like night and day, they say.

Council President Mark Hammer characterized the new lights as “50 percent brighter.”

“We were out walking one night and I said, ‘What’s different?’” Hammer noted, adding, ‘Oh, yeah, new streetlights. I’m not complaining.”

First Ward Councilman Russell Harvey was equally impressed.

“I looked out the window and thought a UFO was landing,” he joked.

Councilor Veronica Pejril said the improved lights have yet to come to her Arlington Street-Seminary Street area of the Third Ward.

“I look forward to my own extraterrestrial story when the new streetlights come to my neighborhood,” Pejril added.

The lighting project began in late April and is expected to conclude by mid-summer. Once installation is completed, the upgraded streetlights are expected to result in an annual cost savings of approximately $30,000 for the city of Greencastle.

The new LED streetlights will emit a noticeably clearer, brighter light than the existing high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights, which produce a dim, amber-orange hue. LED lights have a much longer life span, are safer for traffic, warm up quicker and have lower maintenance costs than HPS lights.

“Energy-efficient outdoor lighting not only provides positive environmental benefits for our customers, but also significant cost savings,” Rick Burger, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy, said. “We worked with Mayor Dory to bring this streetlight conversion project to fruition and look forward to our continued work with the city to deliver electric grid enhancements that will benefit the community.”

For more information about Duke Energy’s work to install smart lighting solutions for its customers, visit duke-energy.com/home/products/outdoor-lighting.