Town of Warwick granted approval by state to acquire its streetlights from O&R
Warwick. The New York State Public Service Commission approves the Town Board’s plan to acquire its streetlights and convert them to LED bulbs. This plan will conserve energy and save taxpayer money.
Warwick /
| 23 Oct 2019 | 02:05
The New York State Public Service Commission approved the Town of Warwick’s plan to acquire its municipal streetlights and convert them to energy saving LED bulbs at its meeting on Oct. 17.
Working with RealTerm Energy and Sustainable Warwick
The Town Board, which has led the way in promoting sustainable energy, solicited proposals and retained RealTerm Energy to evaluate the potential for energy savings and cost reductions from municipal ownership.
An inventory was conducted both by RealTerm and by the town working with volunteers from Sustainable Warwick so that an accurate count could be determined.
Once completed a price for the purchase of 240 streetlights was negotiated with Orange & Rockland Utilities and an agreement to purchase was authorized by the town board.
Cost: $201,025. Saving over two decades: $831,947
The analysis by RealTerm showed a project cost of $201,025, a payback period of five years and a 20-year cost savings to taxpayers of $831,947.
Current energy consumption of 152,344 kWh will be reduced to 28,306 kWh for an 81 percent energy savings.
In addition, smart controls on the lights will allow the town to enjoy more energy and maintenance savings, less light pollution and increased safety on our roadways.
The town will also contract for installation and long-term maintenance of the streetlight system.
The long view
The Warwick Town Board have been leaders in embracing and implementing sustainable energy practices in all town operations as well as adapting our zoning codes to foster this vital effort to conserve energy. Municipal building solar panels, solar hot water heater, energy efficient window replacements, lighting fixtures and LED bulbs have saved taxpayers thousands in energy costs.
The town also helped create the N.Y.S. Unified Solar permit and was an early adopter of this tool that made it extremely easy for the installation of residential solar.
The board worked to approve multiple zoning changes that simplified commercial solar in a manner that was appropriate for its location and provided appropriate screening to maintain our valued viewsheds.
The Town of Warwick was also the only town and only the second municipality after N.Y.C. to receive the coveted SolSmart Gold designation by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“We are also proud to be a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community and to be a partner in the recent Heat Smart Campaign that offers huge savings to our residents,” said Supervisor Michael Sweeton. “I am proud of the leadership of the Town Board and our partnership with volunteer groups like Sustainable Warwick to promote energy conservation and innovation.”