11-04-2025 4:20am

Harford Adds 500

Harford County secures $400K federal grant to upgrade streetlights to LED

BEL AIR, MD—Harford County is set to significantly upgrade its public safety infrastructure and reduce taxpayer expenses after being awarded a $400,000 federal grant to convert streetlights to modern, energy-efficient LED technology.

The funding, secured through the federal Carbon Reduction Program, will be combined with an additional $100,000 in County funds to replace approximately 500 streetlights along county roads. The upgrades, which will convert older bulbs to brighter, more efficient LEDs, are expected to begin in early 2026.

County Executive Bob Cassilly praised the initiative as a win for both fiscal responsibility and public services.

“This award reflects my administration’s commitment to strengthening Harford County’s infrastructure and public safety by capturing federal and state grants to improve efficiencies and maximize the return on taxpayer dollars,” said County Executive Cassilly. “I would like to thank our Department of Public Works team for their hard work in making this project possible.”

Brighter Roads, Lower Bills

The conversion offers a triple benefit for the County:

Improved Public Safety: The new LED bulbs are brighter, offering better visibility along county roads.
Reduced Energy Costs: LEDs consume significantly less electricity than traditional streetlights, directly lowering the County’s electric bills.
Lower Maintenance Expenses: LED bulbs have a much longer lifespan, which will substantially reduce the frequency and cost of maintenance and replacement work.

The project will be managed by the Harford County Department of Public Works in coordination with BGE, the local utility. The federal Carbon Reduction Program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically targets projects designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transportation sources, making the energy-saving streetlight conversion an eligible candidate.