Phoenix plans to switch street lights to LEDs

Phoenix leaders are planning to switch 90,000 street lights to LED technology which is brighter and has lower energy costs.

Street Transportation Director Wylie Bearup said LEDs offer another plus.

“The bright light tends to deter crime and pushes criminals away from a neighborhood, since those neighborhoods tend to be more brightly lit and that’s another reason we’re planning to convert.”

Currently, the energy used by Phoenix street lights cost about $10 million every year. Bearup said LEDs would cost about half that, but to realize the energy savings the city must first change the all those lights. That’s expected to cost $3.4 million every year for the next 15 years.

The city’s transportation department is looking for guidance from the city council on how to cover the conversion costs.