BILLINGS- Northwestern Energy plans on replacing its street lamps with more efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) and some have already been installed in Billings.
Six of the new lights have been put up in Billings on Broadway between First Avenue North and Second Avenue North, Gabel Road near South 32nd Street West, and Babcock Street in the Heights.
These lights are part of Northwestern’s beta testing to determine which LEDs to buy.
The plan is to replace 4,320 in Billings and 43,000 around the state.
The LED lights are 50 percent more efficient and last two to three times longer than the high-pressure sodium lights, according to Northwestern.
Lights in Billings and Helena will be replaced in 2019.
Northwestern will replace its lights in other parts of Montana through 2022.
