Middletown's streetlights are about to become much more energy efficient. The Township embarked on a project that will convert nearly 3,000 existing lights to light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures. LED streetlights are typically brighter and offer several advantages to the community.

Current lighting fixtures use a lot of energy and have an average life of only five years before the need to be replaced. The LEDs are expected to last four times as long while using less than half the electricity. The conversion is projected to save the Township more than $1.5 million over 20 years in PECO energy bills alone. Maintenance savings from purchasing replacement fixtures may be equally high.

Middletown is not alone in making these upgrades. The Township has joined more than forty other nearby municipalities in this large-scale project, organized by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, called the Regional Streetlight Procurement Program (RSLPP). Participating in the RSLPP offers advantages beyond what is already gained through converting to LED fixtures. The Township has access to bulk purchasing rates and low-interest financing. This allows the project, which will cost approximately $1 million, to be paid off over time with the money saved from lower energy and maintenance costs. The vendor for the project, Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI), will also provide the Township with an electronic database to include details and GPS locations for every streetlight fixture in Middletown. Middletown was also selected as the pilot location for all Bucks County communities participating in the RSLPP, meaning that a few Township roads will get an early preview of what the new fixtures will look like.