Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Nashville Electric, NDOT celebrate 6,000 upgraded LED streetlights

Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Nashville Electric Service (NES), and the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) celebrate the upgrading of 6,183 streetlights to new LED technology. The upgrades will slash energy consumption by 60 percent, save the city $20 million in energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 36,000 metric tons over the next decade.

The strategic overhaul began in January with a goal of providing a more efficient and sustainable means of street lighting while improving safety and streetscape aesthetics for Nashvillians. In all, NES is replacing more than 55,000 streetlights throughout Nashville and Davidson County with LED fixtures.

"This partnership project between the city and NES will enhance the safety and experience for all users of our transportation infrastructure - pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters," says Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell. "Upgrading our streetlight fixtures to a smarter, more sustainable, and longer-lasting option will provide public safety, economic, and environmental benefits for years to come."

Photo gallery of the mayor's tour of a recent upgraded site

The new LED streetlights, which operate at a fraction of the energy costs required to power Nashville's decades old high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights, will have smart photocells that allow real-time identification of streetlight outages and greater control of lighting levels on public rights of way. The new fixtures boast a lifespan exceeding 20 years - a marked improvement over the 5-year lifespan of the old HPS fixtures.

"NES is always working to improve efficiency for our customers," said Teresa Broyles-Aplin, President and CEO of NES. "These new lights operate more efficiently compared to legacy streetlights. The energy savings and operational benefits are a win for the city of Nashville and Nashville Electric Service."

NDOT Director Diana Alarcon added, "LED streetlights will significantly improve the safety of daily transportation on our roadways. This upgrade delivers on our commitment to being Vision Zero city and gives Nashvillians confidence that when they're walking or commuting with their friends and family, they will be doing so in a reliably lit environment."

Residents can stay informed about the progress of the Nashville Streetlight Retrofit Project by visiting NashvilleStreetlights.com.