San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization

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Energy efficiency changes light up Kerman





Kerman streets have a new hue.

A total of 617 new light emitting diode, or LED, streetlights have been installed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co, casting a brighter glow on City streets than the old high-pressure sodium bulbs they replaced. The new lights are also significantly more energy efficient, saving the City much needed cash on its utility bills.

Public Works Director Ken Moore said the project was accomplished through a variety of programs that included grants and on-bill financing. “We are very happy with the quality of improved lighting this project provided and the help we received in getting it funded,” he said. “The project was very successful and is beneficial to the citizens of Kerman.”

This means significant savings to City coffers through lower utility bills. The energy efficiency retrofits are saving the City about 204,200 kilowatt hours of energy and shaving roughly $26,000 from its annual power bill. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is roughly equivalent to removing 27 vehicles from the road.

Those are big deal these days.

An Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant paid for 143 of the lights through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program is administered through the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission.

Kerman joined with 35 other cities and counties in the region to form the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Partnership, which is led by the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District with the assistance of the nonprofit San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization. The Partnership administers the more than $4 million in grants and provides technical assistance to local governments.

For more information, contact Public Works Director Ken Moore at 559-846-9388, or kmoore@cityofkerman.org.

Photo: City of Kerman fair display courtesy of City of Kerman