Alexandria, VA -- 4/2/08

The top 10 metropolitan regions in the U.S. can save $90 million annually in electricity costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 million metric tons of CO2. These findings are the result of a new study on energy efficient streetlights completed through a year-long fellowship by ACCE Ford Fellow, Robert Grow, Director of Government Relations for the Greater Washington Board of Trade.

The study uncovered an opportunity for every community in the country to cut costs, reduce energy consumption and potentially eliminate tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This is the equivalent of removing 212,768 automobiles from our nation’s highways or the savings of 131,863,292 gallons of gasoline.

The Fellowship on regional strategies and sustainable growth was funded by the Ford Foundation through the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Grow’s research was completed as a critical part of the fellowship program, with other fellows examining affordable housing on Florida’s east coast, planning for military base realignment and other regional priorities. The Board of Trade’s focus on energy, environment, transportation and the cost of local government led Grow to tackle the lighting issue.

The study finds that the ten largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. can save energy by implementation of managed streetlight networks engaging “smart” streetlight technology, by using new energy efficient streetlamps such as LED (light emitting diodes) or through a combination of both.

The study captured the attention of World Resources Institute President, Jonathan Lash, who notes: “In the challenge to reduce our world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the most tangible and perhaps the most easily accomplished opportunity is to become more energy efficient.” He categorized the environmental impact of efficiency as “low hanging fruit,” since it has only positive economic affects and few critics. “Every reduction in kilowatt requirements contributes directly to reduction of CO2 emission.”

The study conducted through the Ford Foundation Fellowship portrays energy efficient streetlights as an important step in the right direction, with the added benefit of cutting costs for cash-strapped municipal governments.

“These technologies are off the shelf and available today. The savings in taxpayer dollars and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are tangible. It is time to take advantage of this important opportunity” noted study author Robert Grow.

“The American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association and the Ford Foundation are particularly pleased that the first year of our fellowship addressing regional strategies and sustainable development” has resulted in practical research that can have a positive impact on out metropolitan areas” said ACCE President Mick Fleming.

The ACCE Ford Fellowship in Regionalism and Sustainable Development provides hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research, and examination of working models covering a wide range of growth and sustainability issues, including: infrastructure, immigration, land use, housing, education, environment, minority inclusion, and inner city challenges for senior level chamber and economic development executives. . The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is a national association uniquely serving individuals involved in the management of chambers of all sizes, and a national source for education, information, and networking opportunities.