Davids Celebrates Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Grant to Help Kansas Install Energy Efficient Street Lighting

Today, Representative Sharice Davids celebrated a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant for the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). The $1.9 million award will help local governments replace traffic signals and street lighting with new energy efficient technology. Davids was the only member of Kansas’ congressional delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which created this award.

“I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law to modernize Kansas’ infrastructure, ensuring it lasts for many generations to come,” said Davids. “This new grant from that law will help cities and local governments update their traffic signals and streetlights, cutting both energy use and future maintenance costs.”

“This funding will play a key role in facilitating much-needed energy infrastructure improvements in rural Kansas communities,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “By updating traffic signals and street lighting with modern, efficient technology, we’re building safer and more cost-effective Kansas cities.”

“Many publicly owned facilities in Kansas communities are aging and inefficient, incurring high costs for energy and maintenance,” said Rick Pemberton, KCC Energy Division Director. “By replacing streetlights and traffic signals with more energy efficient lighting, local governments have the opportunity to significantly cut energy use and maintenance costs while improving light quality and output for their residents.”

The award is sponsored by DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which helps local governments decrease energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. The KCC will prioritize awards to rural, underserved, and disadvantaged communities. Many publicly owned technologies in these communities are outdated, burdening residents with high costs for energy and maintenance. Replacement of streetlights and traffic signals with more energy efficient lighting can significantly cut energy use and maintenance costs while improving light quality and public safety.

The bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In all, more than $3.2 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure law funding has been announced for Kansas, with more than 311 specific projects identified — from lead pipe replacement in Olathe to safety initiatives in KCK to long-overdue upgrades to K-68 in Miami County.