Framingham-Based Ameresco Gets $18.6 Million Contract From Oregon Department of Transportation

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FRAMINGHAM- Ameresco, Inc., an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced that it has initiated a streetlight conversion pilot program on behalf of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), which will involve replacing more than 8,000 high-pressure sodium lighting fixtures with LEDs.

The $18.6 Million dollar project is funded by an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) that will result in an estimated equivalent of 3,500 metric tons of carbon emissions saved annually.

ODOT selected Ameresco as its project partner given the company’s extensive experience in large-scale lighting projects across the country. The 8,000 streetlights to be replaced during this pilot are along highways in Region 1 of the ODOT system, which includes the Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah and eastern Washington counties.

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“We’re very excited to get this project under way in the Portland area because it will reduce carbon emissions, save taxpayers money and improve safety for ODOT maintenance staff,” said Rian Windsheimer, ODOT manager for the Portland area. “This project is a win across the board.”

The new LED streetlights use 50 percent less energy than traditional highway lighting fixtures and are dark-sky friendly with a color temperature of 3,000 to 4,000 Kelvin.

The longer lifecycle for each LED fixture — which is roughly 15 to 20 years compared with a two to four-year lifespan of traditional high-pressure lights — means that there will be less disruption to the public due to traffic control for replacement.

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“The Oregon Department of Transportation oversees an expansive network of highways in the Pacific Northwest and is committed to using the latest technologies to ensure its roadways are well-maintained,” said Louis Maltezos, Executive Vice President of Ameresco. “By replacing older and outdated lighting fixtures in the Portland Metro region with these energy efficiency LEDs, ODOT is making significant improvements in terms of public safety and sustainability.”

Ameresco officially began work on this project in May 2020. It expects to complete this project by summer 2021.

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Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. is an independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco’s sustainability services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.