Maine Public Utilities Commission
NEWS RELEASE
Maine
Public Utilities Commission
242 State Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0018
Website: www.maine.gov/mpuc/, Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
CONTACT: PUC: Denis Bergeron, 207.287.1366,
mailto:denis.bergeron@maine.gov
MDOT:
Peter Coughlan, 207-624-3266,
peter.coughlan@maine.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2003
PUC
and MDOT Launch Traffic Signal Replacement Program
Program to
help municipalities improve energy efficiency, cut electricity and maintenance
costs
AUGUSTA, ME - Governor John E. Baldacci
announced today that the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Maine
Department of Transportation (MDOT) are joining forces to improve the energy
efficiency of traffic signals across the state. The PUC is awarding $200,000 to fund MDOT’s Municipal Traffic
Signal Replacement Program, which provides grants to Maine cities and towns to
update their traffic signal lighting technology. Program benefits include increased signal energy efficiency,
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced municipal signal maintenance
costs.
The Traffic
Signal Replacement Program helps municipalities retrofit their traffic signals
from incandescent lighting to energy-saving LED-based signals. In addition to saving energy, the highly
efficient light emitting diode (LED) units have an average life of ten years
compared to one year for incandescent lights, which also reduces municipal signal
maintenance costs.
This program
responds to recent directives from the Legislature for state agencies to
coordinate their energy policies, and supports a recent agreement by the New
England Governor’s and Eastern Canadian Premiers to work jointly to reduce
carbon emissions within the region.
This strategy is one of the strategies specifically recommended for
carbon reductions by the governors and premiers.
According to
Peter Coughlan, Director of MDOT’s Community Services Division, “This program
not only significantly reduces municipal signal energy use, saving Maine
communities significant money in electric bills and signal maintenance costs,
but also improves Maine’s environment.”
The PUC and
MDOT determined that financial assistance to municipalities is necessary
because the high initial cost of the LED kits has kept many cities and towns
from investing in them. The investment
in this program, however, is quickly recovered through reduced energy use and
costs. Over the life of the LED bulb,
reduced energy use creates almost $3 in savings for every $1 spent.
The
maintenance savings, which are also significant, are an additional benefit
passed on to taxpayers in communities that take advantage of the program. More than 80 municipalities are now eligible.
In April, the
Legislature passed a law directing the PUC to design and implement programs to
promote efficient electricity use throughout Maine. The Traffic Signal Replacement Program is the latest in a series
of programs being implemented in response to the new efficiency law.
“The Traffic
Signal Replacement Program is an important addition to the portfolio of
efficiency programs we are providing consumers,” said Bill Nugent, PUC
Commissioner, “and will help Maine municipalities control their electric
costs.” Nugent added, “This program,
like all our efficiency programs, will help Maine consumers and taxpayers make
permanent changes in their energy use.”
For more
information on the Signal Replacement Program, municipalities should contact
Peter Coughlan at MDOT’s Community Services Division at 624-3266 or peter.coughlan@maine.gov.
For more
information on the Maine PUC’s other electric energy efficiency programs, or to
get involved in the development of on-going efficiency programs, contact the
PUC at 287-3831 or toll-free at 1-800-452-4699, or visit the PUC website at http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/.
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For more
information: http://www.state.me.us/mpuc/electric_conservation/electricconservation.htm
All PUC New
Releases maybe found on our website at: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/newsreleases2003.htm
To arrange an interview with Chairman Welch or Commissioners Nugent or Diamond, please contact Phillip Lindley at 207.287.1598 or by e-mail at phil.lindley@maine.gov. The Commission’s website may be accessed through the Maine School and Library Network at all public libraries in Maine.