Clinton and Villaraigosa to Unveil Street Light Program Today

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Feb. 9, 2009 (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) and Former President Bill Clinton, Feb. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

As part of his Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), former President Bill Clinton will join Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at City Hall today to "unveil what is being billed as the largest light-emitting diode street light program undertaken by a city," according to the Daily News.

The plan is to "retrofit 140,000 of its residential street lights with energy-efficient LED lights," over a period of five years. "The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40,500 tons and save $10 million annually," explained an aide to Villaraigosa.

Los Angeles is a Partner City in the CCI, which began almost three years ago. The City is implementing this changeover to LED lights following a test period that ran from November 2008 to January 2009. A report issued last month by the Bureau of Street Lighting explains:

In coordination with the Mayor’s leadership on advancing energy efficiency throughout the City, the Bureau strives to be conscious of the impact of excessive energy use, light pollution, glare, hazardous materials, and other environmental impacts to the City. Due to the development of new lighting technology that promises increased energy efficiency, reduced maintenance, longer life span and light control it is incumbent upon the Bureau to actively explore these new lighting sources.