A resolution co-sponsored by the District of New Hazelton was endorsed by the North Central Local Government Association at their annual general meeting recently.
The NCLGA will support lobbying the provincial government to make the necessary changes to BC Hydro to allow all communities to reach locally appropriate solutions to switch BC Hydro-owned streetlights to LED.
New Hazelton Mayor Gail Lowry said this will help achieve carbon neutrality because streetlights represent a significant portion of electrical usage. She said BC Hydro owns most of the streetlights in the district and there is currently no way to allow them to change lights to LED, even if they pays for the retrofit. Currently, the district pays the electricity bill for the lights and LED technology could save the community up to 65 per cent in electrical consumption and carbon emissions.
Port Clements, Queen Charlotte, Masset and Stewart teamed up with New Hazelton to bring the resolution forward.
Lowry attended the annual meeting in Fort St. John along with Councillor Ray Sturney and chief administrative officer Wendy Hunt.
The resolution will be passed along to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for their support in September.