PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) has approved $300,000 in enhanced incentives to support the installation of LED streetlights and control technologies in the City of Providence. This project will reduce Providence's energy consumption and costs, and help shrink the community's carbon footprint.
These enhanced incentives are being offered in addition to any applicable National Grid-administered incentives and represent a unique project cost savings opportunity for first-mover communities. Conversions from traditional street lights to more efficient LEDs have the potential to reduce energy consumption and costs by approximately 40 to 60 percent.
"We are pleased to offer this investment so that our cities and towns can more easily reduce their carbon footprints and save on energy costs," said state Energy Commissioner Carol Grant. "Rhode Island is a national leader in energy efficiency, and we want to continue to build on those successful efforts and lead by example."
The City of Providence will be the first Rhode Island community to receive an award through OER's Municipal LED Streetlight Energy Efficiency Program, which is supported by Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds. The City, which will be receiving the program's maximum award of $300,000 in incentives, has converted more than 17,000 street lights to LED lights.
"I'm excited that Providence stands to save millions of dollars each year and decrease the amount of fossil fuels used for street lighting through the LED conversion," said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. "My administration is committed to providing the most efficient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective service to constituents, and I thank the Office of Energy Resources for assisting municipalities in realizing savings throughout Rhode Island."
Bristol, Barrington, Cranston and West Warwick have also applied for enhanced LED streetlight incentives through the OER program. OER estimates that more than 70 percent of the 98,000 street lights in Rhode Island will be converted to LEDs over the next two years.
For more information about the program, visit www.energy.ri.gov or contact George Sfinarolakis at (401) 574-9101 or George.Sfinarolakis@energy.ri.gov.
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About the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources: The Office of Energy Resources (OER) is Rhode Island's lead state agency on energy policy and programs. The mission of OER is to lead Rhode Island to a secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy future. OER works closely with private and public stakeholders to increase the reliability and security of our energy supply, reduce energy costs and mitigate price volatility, and improve environmental quality. By developing and implementing smart energy policies—such as those that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy—OER helps advance Rhode Island as a national leader in the new clean energy economy.