The Public Lighting Authority of Detroit (PLA) announced its LED streetlight initiative in January this year. Detriot proposed a plan to retrofit over 50,000 street lights with LED bulbs over the next two years, saving the city a total of US $1.5 million annually, according to The Detriot News. Street lights will be provided by three firms – Cree, Leotek Electronics, and Walker-Miller Energy Services said Light Authority CEO Odis Jones. 

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has even praised the authority’s LED street light initiative, joining Detroit city officials in announcing new training programs and additional lights. Since the start of the initiative, around 6,000 lights have already been retrofitted to LEDs, with around 500 being converted each week. 

Earlier this month, The White House announced efforts to improve energy efficiency, said The Detroit News. A pilot program has been launched to help five cities around the U.S. improve energy consumption, with Detroit being one of them.