Project Overview
The City of Ann Arbor was awarded the Carbon Reduction Grant from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), which will allow the city to transition DTE streetlights from high pressure sodium lights (HPS) to more efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights.
Why is this project being done?
This streetlight conversion project will install LED fixtures in existing DTE owned and maintained streetlights within the City of Ann Arbor, which aligns with the city's goals of increasing sustainability and decreasing our carbon footprint as outlined in the city's A2ZERO climate action plan:
- Strategy 3: Significantly Improve the Energy Efficiency in our Homes, Businesses, Schools, Places of Worship, Recreational Sites, and Government Facilities
- Action 3: Power Street Lighting and Traffic Signals with LED
DTE will be converting the light fixtures for existing streetlights. No new streetlights will be added as part of this project. The conversion will include both "cobra head" style streetlights, as well as a small number of "post top" style streetlights.
The new LED fixtures will have a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 2700K and will be either 48W or 58W. Every converted cobra head light will be installed with a house-side shield to minimize light trespass.
The standard selection will be 58W on major roads and 48W on local roads. Exceptions were made on a case by case basis in areas with high pedestrian activity (like the downtown) and near schools. Wattage selection reflects the city's goal of balancing transportation safety needs with the community's desire for reducing overall street lighting levels in residential areas.
Public engagement for this LED Streetlight Conversion Project concluded in early 2024. DTE installed several sample streetlights and the city sought input from the public on the color temperature and wattage of the sample lights. The survey was available to the public for 5 weeks (Dec. 8, 2023 - Jan 12, 2024), during which 56 survey responses were collected. In considering both this public feedback as well as technical considerations, staff recommended for DTE convert their streetlights in Ann Arbor to a warmer color temperature of 2700K and a low wattage of either 48W or 58W. Following City Council discussions on Jul. 15, 2024 and Aug. 8, 2024, staff are directing DTE to include house-side shields on every light and install lower wattage fixtures (48W) where appropriate, mostly on residential streets.
Summer 2025 Project Update:
The installation of these lights are anticipated to begin the week of July 14th, 2025.
- Installation at each streetlight location will typically be relatively short (~1 hour or less).
- There may be some temporary lane closures as part of this project, but no full road closures are anticipated for this work to be completed.
- DTE intends to have multiple crews working on this project with each crew capable of converting up to 25 lights per day.
Streetlight Conversion Installation Map
This map displays information regarding which DTE streetlights will be converted as part of this LED Conversion project. Search for an address or pan/zoom around the map, and click on an individual streetlight location for more information.
Please note that only streetlights that are within the scope of this LED Conversion Project are highlighted in the map. Streetlight locations not highlighted in the map include:
- Streetlights not within the public right-of-way (ex: on private property, in parking lots, etc.)
- Streetlights owned by entities other than DTE (ex: City of Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Private, etc.)
- DTE streetlights that have already previously been installed as, or converted to, LED
Frequently Asked Questions
Where?
Question: Where will work be occurring? Will the streetlight(s) near my house be converted as part of this project?
Answer: Please refer to the map on this project page for more details on locations included within this LED Streetlight Conversion Project scope. Search for an address or pan/zoom around the map, and click on an individual streetlight location for more information.
Why not all streetlights?
Question: Why aren’t all streetlights included in this project?
Answer: Many streetlights in Ann Arbor have already been converted to LED. This project focuses on replacing DTE’s remaining less efficient high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights with more energy efficient LED lights.
Why varying wattages?
Question: Why are there different wattages?
Answer: DTE’s standard LED fixture is a 58W or higher, but City staff understood from public engagement efforts that there was desire for a lower wattage on neighborhood streets. After extensive discussions between City and DTE staff, and with input from City Council and public, an agreement was made to use a combination of 58W and 48W streetlights.
As a note: a relatively small number of “post-top” lights – a different style/size than most of DTE’s streetlights within the City – will be adjusted to 54W and 44W, accordingly. This minor difference in wattage is due to manufacturer availability.
When?
Question: How long will the project take to complete from beginning to end?
Answer: While this depends on a variety of factors, the conversion of all non-LED DTE streetlights will be completed during the 2025 construction season.
Who?
Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns about this project during construction/ installation?
- For general questions about this project, please contact DTE Community Lighting at comm_lighting_account@dteenergy.com.
- To report a specific concern about a newly installed streetlight, please use the "Report An Issue" form on this project page. City staff will coordinate with DTE to review any reports as the broader conversion project progresses for potential adjustment.
