FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday night unanimously authorized entering an agreement with Central Maine Power to convert the town’s streetlights from sodium bulbs to more-efficient LEDs.
Town Manager Richard Davis said the cost to power the sodium fixtures is about $77,000 annually. After converting to LEDs, the annual cost should decrease to about $55,000.
Davis said concerns over decreased brightness have been raised in other communities after LEDs were installed. LED bulbs use 19 watts and emit 2000 lumens, versus 50 watts and 3600 lumens for sodium bulbs.
Davis said he was told sodium lights deteriorate over time, so they do not always provide 50 watts. LED lights maintain their wattage, he said.
“The advantage of waiting for CMP to install the lights is if there are problems, we can inform CMP and they will be responsible for fixing them,” Davis said.
“LEDs have an environmental advantage, use less energy and there’s less light pollution.”
Selectman Scott Landry said he has converted his home to LED bulbs.
“You can see the difference, but you get used to it,” Landry said.
Davis said he talked to Poland’s town manager, who said he and residents are happy with that town’s conversion to LED bulbs.
“It will probably be July before CMP can get to this,” Davis said.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
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