Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Efficiency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warren council approves LED lighting upgrade and uses state grant to weatherize town hall
Summary
The Warren council approved replacing old T12 fluorescent lighting at the wastewater treatment plant with a partially state-incentivized upgrade and agreed to use the remainder of a Rhode Island Office of Energy grant to fully fund weatherization of town hall, with no out-of-pocket cost to the town.
The Warren Town Council voted to replace aging T12 fluorescent lights in valve pits at the wastewater treatment plant and to use remaining Rhode Island Office of Energy grant funds to weatherize town hall.
Town Manager (Speaker 4) told the council the lighting replacement project has a total cost of "$3,453.83," with an incentive of "$1,600.54," leaving the town to pay about "$1,800" from the plant operations fund. Councilmember (Speaker 1) moved to approve the lighting replacement; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote, with the council responding "Aye."
On a related item, the manager said the town was unable to execute a previously awarded $55,000 Office of Energy grant for an earlier project and that the League and state offices proposed an alternative: weatherization of town hall. "The grant and the incentives will cover the full amount of this project, and there'll be no out of pocket expense for the town," the manager said. Councilmember (Speaker 1) moved to use the remainder of the energy grant for non-autonomous weatherization of town hall; that motion was also approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: The lighting upgrade reduces municipal operating costs and maintenance safety risk at a treatment facility; the weatherization project directly uses a previously awarded grant so that the town will not incur additional expense. The council instructed staff to place the items on the next formal council agenda for record and resolution as required.
What’s next: The manager said the lighting cost will be covered from the plant operations fund and the weatherization will proceed under the terms of the Office of Energy grant; the council approved both items by voice vote and will formalize the actions at a future council meeting.
