Light bulbs that are part of a million-dollar-plus investment from the
Michigan Economic Development Corporation could flip the switch on job creation, energy savings and environmental protection.
Through
the MEDC's Advanced Lighting Technology Demonstration grants, 14
Michigan communities are sharing the $1,066,429 pool. They're committing
to updating their bulbs to higher tech, energy saving designs and, when
possible, to buying them from Michigan manufacturers. The object is to
save money (taxpayer dollars) on energy costs, prevent greenhouse gases
by replacing old-style inefficient bulbs and create jobs that involve
the nuts and bolts of updating, replacing and maintaining the new bulbs.
Melanie
McCoy, general manager of Wyandotte's municipal services department,
says the LED project will be completed in tandem with a solar panel
installation on city buildings.
"What we're going to do is actually a fabulous project," she says.
The $100,000 grant will pay for part of a project to replace
existing street lamps and pedestrian walkway lights along a path that
leads from the public library, down Biddle Avenue through downtown and
up Eureka Road for several blocks to the high school.
The
project, which will go out to bid as soon as the city searches for
Michigan companies that can benefit, will be completed by next July. At
the same time the city will use its own funds to add solar power
generators to the library and a water department building.
"This is a combination of a renewable energy project together with an energy efficiency project," McCoy says.
MEDC
President and CEO Michael A. Finney says in a statement announcing the
award of the grants that "the energy and cost savings benefits plus the
maintenance savings due
to the longer life of the lamps are impressive with the newer technology
lighting that's now available. These benefits are more important than
ever to local governments in reducing operating expenses."
"In addition, manufacturing of advanced lighting technologies is a
growing industry in Michigan and has the potential to create a new
source of jobs and investment for local and state economies."
The
types of lighting to be used in the government facilities and on public
transportation vehicles include LEDs, or light emitting diodes, AKA
solid state lighting; induction lighting, and plasma lighting.
The
recipients of the grants must collect data and report their energy
savings, cost savings, jobs created. The Michigan Energy Office will
require that funded grantees regularly collect, track, and report
metrics data related to energy savings, cost savings, jobs created and
emissions reductions.
Besides Wyandotte, other metro Detroit
recipients are Roseville, $81,074; Hazel Park, $50,150; Farmington
Hills, $81,405; and Detroit, $100,000.
Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Melanie McCoy, city of Wyandotte
Writer: Kim North Shine
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.