City projects will result in savings

Green River has recently completed a series of energy-efficient projects which will save the taxpayers thousands of dollars each year.

The city’s parks and recreation department completed six different projects over the course of three years, which will result in an estimated cost savings of $56,000 yearly.

The streets department replaced city-owned streetlights with LED lights Aug. 7. These streetlights are located along Flaming Gorge Way, the overpass to Second Street, Scotts Bottom Road as well as Spur Road. In total, 115 LED corn bulbs were purchased for $4,887 in order to replace the street lights.

The city, after applying for reimbursement from Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart program, should receive $3,400. According to a media release from the city, the LED lights should reduce the city’s power consumption at the plant by 75% and the new lights should pay for themselves within their first year.

The parks and recreation department also completed the LED retrofit of city offices and facilities, which saves $10,000 annually. The LED retrofit of decorative pole lighting will save roughly $6,000 a year and remetering of all ballfields at Stratton Meyers Park to a recreational lighting rate will save $25,000 annually.

The pool and racquetball LED retrofit at the Green River Recreation Center will save $3,000 and the complete LED retrofit of the recreation center will save $12,000 annually.

The city’s wastewater treatment plant recently completed a total LED retrofit as well. The city received a grant that will cover 90% of the $18,887 cost, leaving approximately $1,889 for the city to pay.