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LED streetlights floated for Fredonia

Fredonia looks likely to join the light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting trend.

National Grid’s Paul Kazmierczak gave a presentation to the Fredonia Board of Trustees Monday about a plan to change 594 street lights in the village. They are currently high-pressure sodium streetlights, he said.

Besides the big difference in the method of light generation, LED lights emit a white beam quite distinct from the familiar amber-colored glow of traditional streetlighting. Also, “The LEDs focus much more on the street and have much less spill … it’s very dark-sky friendly,” Kazmierczak said.

The power company representative added the village should see plenty of savings on its electricity bill. That’s because most of the current bulbs are 110 watts each, while LEDs will rate at 25 or 48 watts each, depending on what the village wants. The village would see more savings if it changes over at least 15 percent of its lights, as that would make it eligible for National Grid incentive program benefits.

Kazmierczak said he was seeking a letter of intent from the village that it wanted to convert the 594 streetlights. “It does not at this time include ornamental lights, just the ones hanging on the ‘cobra arms’ off our existing distribution poles,” he said.

A full inventory of all lights — location, wattage and so forth — by National Grid will occur when that letter comes in.

Municipal electric systems such as Mayville and Jamestown have already converted to LEDs, “but basically all the municipalities touching you are in the process of converting,” he added.

With power on everyone’s minds, Trustee Michael Barris floated another idea for the future: bury every power line in the village. ”

“The question is the aesthetics,” he said. “We’re talking about getting people to move to Fredonia and having pride in the community, and I think the overhead power lines are phenomenally ugly compared with the photographs of Fredonia a century ago,” he said.

Trustee Douglas Essek, asked what he thought of the idea, quipped, “In our lifetimes?” He said the costs and hassle of burying every line in the village would be too much.

Trustee Kara Christina noted that newer areas of the village, such as Castille Heights, do have underground lines.

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