The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Dec. 11 to begin installing light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting in town. The proposal is to eventually use LED lighting for all streetlights and other leased lights in Wrightsville Beach, but town manager Tim Owens said the lights will first be installed only around the town’s municipal campus to allow residents to view any difference in appearance. LED lights tend to be more of a white light, Wrightsville Beach public works director Mike Vukelich said, as opposed to the orange hue emitted by high pressure sodium lights and the green hue of mercury vapor lights.
Whereas in the past, switching to LED lighting would have been more expensive, a recent offer from Duke Energy would save the town an estimated $10,000 annually. The installation would incur no cost to the town because Duke Energy owns the lights, Vukelich said.
That first phase could be completed in about two months. If residents and town leaders approve of the lights, the LED lights will then be installed throughout the rest of Wrightsville Beach.
Vukelich said a similar project is currently being completed in the city of Wilmington. Duke Energy is installing approximately 18,000 LED street and area lights in the city because they burn brighter, last longer and use 40 percent less energy.
The board also voted to approve the purchase of 37 parking meters for new spaces created on Waynick Boulevard. The aldermen will discuss a list of recommendations by Lanier Parking during its January retreat, but if the town waited to order meters after that date it would most likely not be delivered in time for the start of parking season March 1.
“We definitely want to get these in to avoid any confusion,” Owens said.
The board will use $20,000 from the budget for meter upgrades and $20,000 from the general fund to purchase the meters. The meters will be coin-operated but allow for pay-by-phone services.
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