July 22, 2024   

Visionaire, Cree, Hapco Cash in $7.7M Florida Grant

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Above: WINK-TV News report

State-funded initiative for turtle-safe lighting aids Fort Myers' reconstruction after Hurricane Ian

 

Fort Myers Beach, Florida, is investing millions in state funds to rebuild infrastructure and protect sea turtles following Hurricane Ian's devastation in September 2022. The major focus is on upgrading street lighting and making it safe for the coastal city's sea turtle population.

The city is set to begin a $7.77 million project this month to install 700 new sea turtle-friendly lights along Estero Boulevard and side streets. The project, funded by a state grant for Hurricane Ian recovery, is expected to be completed by September 2025. The three lighting manufacturers that will seemingly benefit the most from the state grant are Visionaire Lighting, Cree Lighting and Hapco Poles.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW




Florida Power & Light (FPL), the state’s largest utility, will oversee the installation of various lighting fixtures designed to minimize impact on nesting sea turtles.

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Above: Excerpt from Visionaire Lighting specification sheet

The project calls for:

  • Visionaire Lighting BLX-II fixtures, rated at 321 watts, with specialized shielding mounted on 22.5-foot Hapco breakaway utility conflict poles.
  • Visionaire Lighting BOW LX crosswalk lights, to be installed under a separate county transportation project.
  • Cree Lighting 140-watt RSW-XL-AMB wildlife certified fixtures on 22.5-foot standard concrete poles.
  • Some existing 140-watt amber Cree Lighting RSW-XL fixtures with rear shields will remain in place, while others will be removed as part of the upgrade.

 

In Fort Meyers, the Cree Lighting C&I agent is FRM Lighting & Controls, although this project may be managed through the utility channel. Similarly, the Visionaire Lighting C&I representative in Fort Meyers is SESCO Lighting, but this project might also be handled through the manufacturer’s utility channel. For Hapco Poles, Engineer Sales serves as the agent for the utility channel.

Troy Rice, President of FPL Energy Services, stated, "We expect to finish the project within the next 15 months, illuminating Estero Blvd., side streets and Old San Carlos Blvd”, this according to a report from WINK-TV News.

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Above: Overview of project and sequence of construction.
Source: Town of Fort Myers Beach

UPDATE Aug 13, 2024:

This original article stated that the new lighting design was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

After reexamining public documents, we can verify that the fixtures cited above were specified as a sole name specification. However, Inside Lighting did not validate whether each and every specified fixture was indeed approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Local ABC News affiliate WINK reports that the project was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

 

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt views the lighting project as part of a broader revitalization effort. "You combine that with the new street lighting, and you'll see Fort Myers Beach on the move again. It's like we're going through a renaissance," he told WINK-TV News.

The town council authorized the project on February 20, 2024, accepting an amended grant agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The funds will be provided as a one-time advance payment, allowing for swift implementation of the lighting upgrades.

This significant investment in turtle-friendly lighting technology showcases how coastal communities can balance infrastructure improvements with wildlife conservation efforts in the wake of natural disasters.

 

 

 




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