RPC program installs street and yard lights in three neighborhoods; aims for 200 homes

Peter Pashock, the energy-efficiency program manager at RPC, told the Champaign County Board on Feb. 20 that the program completed 28 projects in 2024 and has a pipeline of roughly 100 applicants and a spring goal of 30 more projects, with a long-term target of 200 homes served.

Pashock said the program focused on three neighborhoods—Dobbins Downs, Scottswood and Pleasant Acres in Rantoul—and overcame differences in contractor requirements across jurisdictions to standardize pricing and procedures. “We estimate that we've received about 100 applicants with minimal fall off,” he said. Pashock described most completed projects as including a Ring doorbell and LED upgrades; typical project costs fell near $1,200 to $1,900, with a $2,000 per-house cap.

The program provides up to $2,000 per qualifying owner-occupied home for lighting improvements, including repair or replacement of existing fixtures, installation of post-top yard lights and wiring for new circuits. Pashock said the team aims to maximize each household’s award and will roll unused homeowner funding into future projects when homeowners decline modifications.

Board members pressed for detail on scope and timeline. In response to Board member Jeff, Pashock clarified, “Each house has up to $2,000 worth of funding to implement some combination of lighting improvement on the house.” To a question from Jake about counts, he said the program completed 28 projects last season and anticipates roughly 30 in the spring. When Board member Rogers asked about installation time, Pashock said the application takes about 20 minutes, the assessment about an hour and installation typically half a day.

Pashock and multiple board members acknowledged contractor availability slowed rollout; he said two contractors experienced major health setbacks (a heart attack and shoulder surgery) that reduced throughput but that the program expects to onboard more contractors in spring. He also said eligibility is limited to owner-occupied houses in the designated neighborhoods; rental properties are not eligible under current grant rules.

The board and community partners discussed outreach plans. Board members and local pastors on the North Side agreed to coordinate informational sessions. Pashock said the program uses a fully digital application and plans to resume construction once ground conditions allow. He added the primary community benefit is safety and perceived neighborhood quality: “I feel safe … I can see what's going on,” he reported residents saying about the upgraded lighting.

Why it matters: The work is part of county efforts to reduce energy costs and improve public safety and livability in underlit neighborhoods. The $2,000-per-home cap and owner-occupancy requirement shape which households will be served and how quickly the program can scale.

Looking ahead, RPC will reboot installations in spring weather, continue contractor outreach, and coordinate with community groups to expand awareness and enrollment. Pashock told the board the program intends to be “a good steward of this fund” and to reallocate unused budget to future projects where possible.