SHELBURNE — Ahead of a Selectboard vote on Monday, members of the Energy Committee presented their recommendation for the town to acquire its lampposts and light bulbs from Eversource, a move they argue would save both energy and money.

During a presentation to the public on Wednesday, the Energy Committee emphasized that many towns across the state decided to buy their own lights when they switched to energy-efficient LED bulbs. Nearby towns that have done this include Buckland, Erving, Hadley and Sunderland.

“More than 100 municipalities in Massachusetts have undertaken LED streetlight replacement following the path that we are recommending,” said Energy Committee Chair Tom Johnson. “The long-term savings involved, both in energy and money, cannot be disputed.”

Should the Selectboard decide not to buy the lampposts from Eversource and have the town oversee its own LED light conversion, the alternative would be to allow Eversource to convert the current high-pressure sodium light bulbs to LEDs. Johnson said if the Selectboard follows the Energy Committee’s recommendation, the town will likely see the new bulbs by 2025.

With a switch to LEDs overseen by Eversource, according to Johnson’s math, the town could see $5,347 worth of annual energy savings. However, if the town purchases its streetlights, it could see $10,000 to $11,000 worth of savings annually. Johnson argued that the town could see net savings over the 25-year lifespan of a LED bulb, adjusted for inflation, of $231,318.

According to Johnson, it would cost about $55,000 to transition to the town owning its lights. This cost includes acquiring ownership of the lampposts from Eversource ($14,000), an investment-grade audit, and the purchase and installation of the new LEDs. Johnson said it would take about four years to see the returns of purchasing their streetlights equal to what it would cost to get LEDs through Eversource.

With 99 streetlights in town, maintenance would cost an estimated $2,376 each year.

Aside from financial savings in the town buying its own streetlights, Johnson said this move would allow the lights to be more customizable. The lowest amount of kelvin (K) offered for bulbs from Eversource is 3000K. Johnson expects the town to pick a light bulb with a much warmer light and less kelvin (about 2,200 to 2,700). He said lights might also be adjustable from location to location to ensure the light doesn’t negatively impact people’s nearby homes.

In regards to the carbon footprint, the Energy Committee found that switching to LED lights could use 32,000 fewer kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity than the high-pressure sodium light bulbs. With dimming features, there could be an added 2,000 kWh in annual savings from the town buying its own fixtures.

The Energy Committee found three ways the town could fund purchasing the lights. The town can use stabilization funds, with the savings over the years offsetting the costs. The town could also apply for a grant. Johnson identified two different grants the town qualifies for: Municipal Energy Technical Assistance and Green Communities. Alternatively, the town could enter into a lease-purchase agreement that would last five, seven or 10 years.

“Our regional coordinator is optimistic about us getting a Green Communities grant,” Johnson said.

Johnson, noting that the Energy Committee’s mission is to lower greenhouse gas emissions, said the committee’s proposal falls in line with energy reduction goals.

“Our generation owes this to our children and grandchildren,” he said.

To view the Energy Committee’s report recommending the town buy its streetlights, visit bit.ly/44eMvAR.

The Selectboard will discuss the streetlights on Monday at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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