NB Power will begin replacing 72,000 existing street lights with LED lights in the spring. (NB Power),The replacement lights, which will be supplied by Halifax-based LED Roadway Lighting Ltd., are expected to save about $6 million over 20 years, said Thomson.

         Although they are more expensive to purchase, they use about half the electricity of the existing high pressure sodium lights and last about 20 years compared to the current six, she said. That means less installation and maintenance costs.Environmental benefits                    

         The new lights will also reduce greenhouse gases by about 324,000 tonnes over the 20 years, the equivalent of removing 3,000 vehicles from the road, Thomson said.

        NB Power will replace the existing street lights over the next five years, beginning in the spring.The other Nova Scotia communities that are taking part in the project are Amherst, Antigonish, Berwick, Bridgewater, Halifax, Lunenburg, New Glasgow, Parrsboro and Yarmouth.