LEBANON — Pink fliers will soon go up on streetlights throughout Lebanon warning residents that some lights near their home could be turned off as part of an upcoming project to reduce the city’s energy footprint and save money.
“We’re projecting to take down roughly 10% of the streetlights (in Lebanon), about 90,” Tad Montgomery, the city’s energy and facilities manager, said in an interview on Wednesday.
By turning off some streetlights and then replacing the rest with high-efficiency alternatives, the city could save $80,000 a year on its electric bill while also reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and light pollution, Montgomery said.
Lebanon’s nearly 900 lights are owned by Liberty Utilities and cost about the city about $155,000 annually, according to a presentation posted on the city’s website.
The lights slated to be turned off were selected using guidelines enacted by City Manager Shaun Mulholland in October.
The city’s policy generally calls for the use of streetlights in more densely settled and highly trafficked areas in Lebanon, such as the two downtowns and Route 4. Lights are generally needed at intersections, roundabouts, mid-block crosswalks and city parking lots, as well, according to the guidelines.
Many of the streetlights proposed for decommissioning are in rural areas or near the end of dead-end streets. More than 10 streetlights could be shut off on Route 120 south of downtown Lebanon leading into Plainfield.
Montgomery said the decommissioning and streetlight conversion projects have been in the works for nine years. They’re part of a five-phase project that ultimately aims to install ornamental lights in downtown Lebanon and West Lebanon, he said.
The City Council set aside $920,000 in its budget to fund the project, which will entail purchasing active streetlights from Liberty and installing LEDs, which are more energy efficient and longer lasting than the high pressure sodium lights mostly used now.
“But we would still have to get Liberty Utilities to sell them to us,” Montgomery said. “That could be a protracted process because we would prefer to own them.”
Liberty spokesman John Shore said on Thursday the company is “working closely with the city of Lebanon” on the project.
“Once they make their final decision, we will remove streetlights based on their request,” he wrote in an email, adding the utility also plans to collaborate with city officials on the LED conversion project.
Assistant Mayor Clifton Below said LEDs offer many benefits over the city’s current lights. They’re easier to control, so light will be directed more into the street rather than private property, he said.
“It should provide a much more even light distribution. You’re not going from a bright spot to much lower light levels, which is the current pattern between street lights,” he said. “It will still be a warmer light but not as orangy.”
Lebanon isn’t alone in its efforts to reduce the number of active streetlights. Several Upper Valley towns have either turned off lights or converted them to LEDs in recent years.
Canaan discontinued 30 lights, or about 25% of its inventory, in 2011. At the time, officials estimated the move would save between $3,000 to $4,000 a year.
“We’ve had no complaints at all,” Town Administrator Mike Samson said of the change.
Meanwhile, streetlights are the topic of an ongoing debate in Enfield, where the town’s Energy Committee proposed decommissioning 46 lights last year.
That number was whittled down to 29 after police and public works officials weighed in, and the Selectboard chose only seven of those to eliminate after receiving public input.
Residents at Enfield Town Meeting voted, 40-29, to decommission the remaining 22 lights, with advocates saying it could save the town more than $2,000 a year. However, the Selectboard hasn’t yet taken action on that advisory vote, according to Selectboard member Meredith Smith.
Montgomery said Lebanon hopes to make the streetlight project open and transparent to residents.
People can find out more about the project at LebanonNH.gov/Streetlights. The website includes a map of the lights officials are proposing to turn off, as well as a form residents can complete to provide input. The deadline for objections is June 9.
The city will also hold two public forums on the proposed changes. The first is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6 at City Hall, while the second is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at the Mount Lebanon School.
“We’re giving people ample opportunity to discuss this with us and to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, I don’t want that streetlight taken down’ or ‘Please take this one
too,’ ” Montgomery said.
Those with questions or concerns can contact Montgomery at Streetlights@LebanonNH.gov or by calling 603-442-6140.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.