INDIANAPOLIS — Just over three years since Mayor Joe Hogsett joined AES Indiana to launch Operation Night Light, the partners marked the near completion of the goal to convert thousands of streetlights around Marion County neighborhoods to high-efficiency LED fixtures.
Mayor Hogsett launched Operation Night Light in 2016, delivering on a promise to lift the 35-year streetlight moratorium endured by residents. Since that time, nearly 27,000 fixtures have been retrofitted with high-efficiency LED lights in neighborhoods across Marion County. Despite the interruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, AES Indiana crews stayed on schedule, and have met the conversion timeline set forth in the original agreement with the City of Indianapolis.
As cost savings have been realized through the retrofit, the City has approved over 2,000 additional LED light fixtures for installation in areas where more lighting was needed. New lights will continue to be installed through 2025, as savings continue to be reinvested in additional infrastructure. Suggested locations for new lights have been received from neighbors across the city.
Benefits of LED lighting include increased feelings of safety among residents, as the lights are brighter and clearer for pedestrians and drivers; a cleaner environment, as LED bulbs reduce energy consumption by 50% or more over high-pressure sodium bulbs; and lower maintenance costs, as LED lights have a longer lifespan and require far less regular maintenance than their predecessors.
