As the City of St. Paul continues to grapple with copper wire theft, a new pilot project could result in a complete overhaul of how the city is lit.
The city has partnered with North Dakota State University on a study to test the feasibility of solar streetlights.
City Engineer Nick Peterson says there's a lot to consider when you're talking battery-powered light systems in a Minnesota climate.
"Is it going to work in the wind? Is the battery going to keep up? Are they going to last through the night? Are they going to last for years? That kind of thing," says Peterson. "And then just, you know, coupled with that, are they going to be bright enough? Should lighting levels be adjusted up or down?"
Peterson says solar lights would have a higher upfront cost, but could save the city money in the long term, not to mention they're a sustainable option that would use less energy.
"Less energy that comes from the power grid, we presume there would be less of a life cycle cost after installation and perhaps less maintenance," says Peterson. "They would include LED lights, so they should last for a long time. And of course if we're going to use renewable energy we're going to have some environmental benefits that go with that."
Right now 14 lights are being tested along Pleasant Avenue. The city has also received funding to study the feasibility of solar streetlights.
