Mayor Parker, CenterPoint Energy announce groundbreaking partnership

HOUSTON – Joined by many local and state leaders, Mayor Annise Parker announced a groundbreaking partnership between the City of Houston and CenterPoint Energy that will save energy, reduce costs, achieve environmental benefits and provide new hike and bike trails for Houston's residents.

Under the agreement announced on Friday, The City of Houston and Centerpoint will convert nearly 165,000 streetlights from high pressure sodium, mercury vapor and metal halide to light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

According to officials, this replacement project is the largest in the nation and will reduce Houston's streetlight energy usage by approximately 50 percent, and save the city more than $28 million over the life of the project.

In addition, an agreement has been reached that will allow hike and bike trails along CenterPoint's utility ROWs.

"Our partnership with CenterPoint will reduce Houston's carbon footprint, increase the quality of outdoor lighting, improve connections in our burgeoning hike and bike trail system and improve the quality of life and safety of residents, all while saving the City money," said Mayor Parker. "These are big wins for Houston."

The Bayou Greenways 2020 project will create trails along the city's bayous which tend to run east and west.

CenterPoint has committed $1.5 million to build the first leg of the trails at a site yet to be determined.    
 
"CenterPoint Energy is pleased to be part of these two initiatives that will enhance the quality of life in our community," said Scott Prochazka, President and CEO of CenterPoint Energy. "Our company prospers as our communities prosper and our communities prosper when residents, visitors and employers agree that our communities are good places to live, raise families and locate businesses."

The popularity of cycling in Houston is expected to increase in the future as Bayou Greenways 2020 projects are built.