Yorktown Completes LED Streetlight Conversion Project

Yorktown took another step towards reducing its carbon footprint with the completion of a replacement program for outdated streetlights.

The Streetlight Conversion Project installed 260 bulbs that use energy-efficient light emitting diodes. In addition to saving the town $26,000 a year, the new streetlights will cut in half the amount of electricity used for street illumination.

“Yorktown is committed to conservation and protecting our environment,” said Supervisor Matt Slater. “Last month, we celebrated the opening of a new food-scraps composting collection site and in March our police department bought its first hybrid vehicle. These efforts will continue as we identify new conservation opportunities.”

The LED Streetlight Conversion Project began last year in conjunction with NYSEG, the power utility that serves parts of Yorktown.

“We at NYSEG have been working hard to become a more energy efficient community”, said NYSEG President Carl Taylor. “We’re working together in conjunction with everyone to reduce energy consumption and LED lights are the perfect opportunity to do that.”

The cost of the project for the town was approximately $17,000 with an expected annual savings of $26,000 a year.

“Although things got a little delayed to Covid, it’s been great to have this come to fruition,” said Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli. “Yorktown adopting efficient energy alternatives is a huge step in the right direction.”

“It’s really a wonderful improvement to our local infrastructure”, said Councilman Vishnu Patel. “It saves the town money, requires less maintenance, and is better for the environment.”

Besides the new streetlights, Yorktown has approved initiatives designed to conserve large amounts of electricity, including:

• The November approval of the installation of a solar panel array in the parking lot of the Granite Knolls Sports Complex.
• The September adoption of new laws regulating solar panel arrays and solar power storage devices.
• The August agreement with Sustainable Westchester to educate residents about vetted solar-power enrollment opportunities.
• A December energy credit purchase agreement with Lodestar Energy that will deliver solar-produced electricity to municipal buildings, reduce the town’s carbon footprint by 70% and save the town an estimated $30,000 a year.