Memorandum 16-136 New LED Lights for High Mast Light #7 at the Harbor

Memorandum 16-136

TO:                       MAYOR BETH WYTHE & HOMER CITY COUNCIL

THROUGH:         KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER

FROM:                  BRYAN HAWKINS, PORT DIRECTOR/HARBORMASTER

DATE:                   AUGUST 12, 2016

SUBJECT:           APPROPRIATION FOR NEW LED LIGHTS FOR HIGH MAST LIGHT #7

The Homer Harbor facility is primarily illuminated using 150’ high mast light poles with 1000w high-pressure sodium lights.  Although these fixtures have served us well up to now, they are expensive to operate in terms of energy costs.  On the seven poles, we have 69 – 1000w lights.  We estimate that all seven poles are operating an average of 12 hours per day, 365 days a year, with the costs broken down as follows:

69KW per hour X 12 hour per day = 828 kilowatts use per day

828KW X 365 days a year = 302,220 kilowatts per year

302,220KW X $0.22 current per kilowatt current cost = $66,488.40 annual electricity costs

Plenty of motivation there to switch to something more efficient!  Another reason for switching is the fact that most of the light fixtures in the high mast lights are almost 30 years old; even though they have been well maintained, they are showing significant wear and tear from all the years of being on the Homer Spit.

The Port and Harbor’s plan has been to find the best replacement light fixture for all seven poles that will cut operation and maintenance costs, and that will stand the test of time on the Homer Spit. To begin our research, we teamed up with Puffin Electric for their expertise; they have turned area lighting into one of their specialties and have installed new high mast LED lamps in Dutch Harbor and have plans to install these same LED fixtures for the new harbor in Valdez.  The biggest challenge with lighting on high mast lights is finding a replacement light fixture that will work as a direct replacement for LED that will work from that height of the poles.  When LED’s first came out, they were only recommending them to be installed on 40’ street-level poles.  After many years of research, Port and Harbor staff is now convinced that the LED technology has finally reached the 150’ level.

We’ve done the homework to determine if these new LED lights will work for us.  Last winter, Port and Harbor Staff laid out a large grid around pole #7, turned off all the other high mast lights, and using a light meter to measure foot candles of light we recorded the current light levels produced by this one pole.  Those numbers were then fed into a new software program at Puffin Electric and a base was created that could then be used to compare new lighting products against our old lights.  This program also gives us the ability to fine tune our lights, which will help us to better direct the light to where it needs to go.  Another improvement in the field of lighting systems has to do with glare reduction; the new lights come with visors that help direct the lights, reducing glare and light pollution, and will help improve our dark sky that we all enjoy.  The new lights are also smaller in size, weigh less, and have simple wiring requirements.  Port Maintenance Staff will be able to install the new lights so no specialists are required.

Port and Harbor is requesting an appropriation of $30,000 to purchase 12 new LED lights for the high mast light pole #7.  Once installed, we will re-run our ground test in order to confirm our levels of light are at least the same as what we had with the old light fixtures.  Because of all the pre-purchase work and studies, we feel confident that this test will be successful and shall take us to the next logical step of upgrading the six other high mast lights around the Port and Harbor facility.

Attached is a breakdown ROI (return on investment) provided by Puffin Electric that shows a little over 4-year payback for our investment, which is a really great ROI in terms of energy efficiency upgrades.

Recommendation:

Adopt Ordinance 16-45, appropriating $30,000 from the Port and Harbor Reserves for the purpose of purchasing 12 new LED lights for the high mast light #7.  Once this initial purchase is made and successfully tested, it is Port and Harbor’s intention to request another appropriation of approximately $125,000 from Port and Harbor reserves in order to upgrade the remaining six high mast light poles around the Port and Harbor facility.

Attached:                 Puffin Electric’s ROI Breakdown for High Mast Pole #7

                                        Photos of Current & New LED Light Fixtures

Fiscal Note:             456-0380 – $30,000.00