Rockville will begin work this fall on the first phase of a citywide project to replace streetlights owned and maintained by the city with energy-efficient light-emitting diode fixtures.
The project’s first phase includes replacing approximately 2,000 fixtures of the more common types, including colonial, contemporary and cobra-head fixtures. The city will replace other decorative fixtures as a later phase of the project. Streetlights that are owned and maintained by the city are located on metal or fiberglass poles and are fed by underground power. Streetlights owned and maintained by Pepco are located on wooden utility poles and are fed by overhead power.
The Mayor and Council awarded the roughly $1 million project contract Aug. 7 to Lighting Maintenance, Inc. The city is funding nearly $675,000 of the project through a grant award from the Maryland Energy Administration and from Pepco’s EmPowerMD rebates.
The project supports energy efficiency efforts that are part of Rockville’s Climate Action Plan. LEDs offer reduced greenhouse gas emissions and save tax dollars through lower energy and maintenance costs.