Page 27 - Sept/Oct 2015 Vol.33 No.3
P. 27
of McMinnville’s savings, just like money LEDs in the next couple of years. These McMinnville’s Assistant
in the bank, will exponentially increase fixtures have a lower lifecycle cost than Public Works Director
with time – just like interest being paid regular lighting. “With lower energy use Brad Hennessee spent
on an investment. The savings on mainte- and a more pleasing light along with countless hours taking
nance cost was the icing on the proverbial lower monthly rental costs, McMinnville inventory of streetlights
cake. “Taking innovative ideas like LED Electric System customers have a win-win and investigating costs
streetlights and actually employing them with outdoor lighting,” said Golden. for the new LED
as a means of energy efficiency while also lighting effort.
saving the City money is a win-win for The yard lights installed for customers
everyone,” said Burgess. “It illustrates in are controlled by managed photocells. another reason to boast about living in
a positive way the public power model of This new technology allows McMinnville a small town. No other city in the Ten-
getting things done.” Electric Systems to schedule when the nessee Valley Authority service territory,
lights turn off and on. “How many times which covers seven states, has done what
McMinnville Electric System began re- have you seen a yard light operating McMinnville has accomplished with LED
placing the streetlights in November 2014 on a rainy day just because there was lighting.
with an expected finish date of April 2015. not enough ambient light for it to
McMinnville Electric System fast-tracked turn off?” asked Ralph Dunn, Manager
the project with 100 percent completion of Engineering and Operations at
in January 2015. “To date, the response McMinnville Electric Systems. “This
from McMinnville’s citizens has been is another way McMinnville Electric
positive,” commented Rodney Boyd, CEO Systems brings value to its customers.”
of McMinnville Electric System. The management of lighting schedules
prevents the waste of energy as sometimes
While the City has chosen to “go green” is found with normal, un-managed
with streetlights, McMinnville Electric devices. Yard lights are scheduled to be
System has also decided on a progressive turned on approximately 20 minutes after
path with its customers’ yard (outdoor) sunset and to turn off approximately 20
lighting. Yard lights are being replaced minutes before sunrise.
with comparable LEDs as older fixtures
are reported as “out.” Jeff Golden, Chair- In conclusion, we don’t have to live in
man of the McMinnville Electric System a large metropolitan area to be able to ex-
Board of Public Utilities, expects all of the perience the latest in technology advance-
territory to be completely illuminated by ments. McMinnville has given its citizens
View online at tnpublicworks.com 27
in the bank, will exponentially increase fixtures have a lower lifecycle cost than Public Works Director
with time – just like interest being paid regular lighting. “With lower energy use Brad Hennessee spent
on an investment. The savings on mainte- and a more pleasing light along with countless hours taking
nance cost was the icing on the proverbial lower monthly rental costs, McMinnville inventory of streetlights
cake. “Taking innovative ideas like LED Electric System customers have a win-win and investigating costs
streetlights and actually employing them with outdoor lighting,” said Golden. for the new LED
as a means of energy efficiency while also lighting effort.
saving the City money is a win-win for The yard lights installed for customers
everyone,” said Burgess. “It illustrates in are controlled by managed photocells. another reason to boast about living in
a positive way the public power model of This new technology allows McMinnville a small town. No other city in the Ten-
getting things done.” Electric Systems to schedule when the nessee Valley Authority service territory,
lights turn off and on. “How many times which covers seven states, has done what
McMinnville Electric System began re- have you seen a yard light operating McMinnville has accomplished with LED
placing the streetlights in November 2014 on a rainy day just because there was lighting.
with an expected finish date of April 2015. not enough ambient light for it to
McMinnville Electric System fast-tracked turn off?” asked Ralph Dunn, Manager
the project with 100 percent completion of Engineering and Operations at
in January 2015. “To date, the response McMinnville Electric Systems. “This
from McMinnville’s citizens has been is another way McMinnville Electric
positive,” commented Rodney Boyd, CEO Systems brings value to its customers.”
of McMinnville Electric System. The management of lighting schedules
prevents the waste of energy as sometimes
While the City has chosen to “go green” is found with normal, un-managed
with streetlights, McMinnville Electric devices. Yard lights are scheduled to be
System has also decided on a progressive turned on approximately 20 minutes after
path with its customers’ yard (outdoor) sunset and to turn off approximately 20
lighting. Yard lights are being replaced minutes before sunrise.
with comparable LEDs as older fixtures
are reported as “out.” Jeff Golden, Chair- In conclusion, we don’t have to live in
man of the McMinnville Electric System a large metropolitan area to be able to ex-
Board of Public Utilities, expects all of the perience the latest in technology advance-
territory to be completely illuminated by ments. McMinnville has given its citizens
View online at tnpublicworks.com 27
