Public Lighting Authority Looking to “Smart Grid” Technology

Detroit’s Public Lighting Authority has installed more than 57,000 new streetlights.

Palmer Park Woodward Light 1

As Detroit approaches the one year anniversary of emerging from the nation’s largest-ever municipal bankruptcy, WDET is examining how the city has changed.

Detroiters have long complained about public lighting.  But a new public lighting authority was launched in 2013 to tackle the problem.  Under the leadership of CEO Odis Jones, the agency has been working to replace thousands of old streetlights with new LED lamps.  He says he’s also working to bring “Smart Grid” technology to the city.

Jones spoke with WDET’s Jerome Vaughn.

 

Author

  • Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.