By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – All street lights throughout Alabaster – including those in neighborhoods – will be upgraded to LED through an agreement the Alabaster City Council approved with Alabama Power during a Jan. 22 meeting.

Council members voted unanimously during the meeting to OK the agreement, which will allow the power company to upgrade 2,054 lights from traditional high-intensity discharge to LED.

Through the agreement, Alabama Power will upgrade the lights, provide electricity to the fixtures and then assume maintenance of the lights during the three-year contract period at a price of about $25,642 per month.

Currently, the city pays Alabama Power $25,750 per month to provide electricity to the street light fixtures, but the city is responsible for maintaining the lights.

This marks the third agreement the city has signed with Alabama Power to upgrade light fixtures in the city, as it voted in late 2018 to enter into a similar contract with the company to upgrade lighting in the Propst Promenade to LED.

Council members voted in early January to enter into a 36-month agreement with Alabama Power to upgrade 89 street lights at 22 intersections in the city from HID to white LED lights. In all three agreements, the city has the option to renew the agreement after the initial 36-month period ends.

During a Jan. 17 work session, Alabaster City Administrator Brian Binzer said the lifespan of an LED light is about 20 years, which is significantly longer than a traditional HID bulb.