Cleveland City Council committee begins hearings on new LED lighting legislation

Published: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 6:00 AM   

Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --While Mayor Frank Jackson's second effort to tie the purchase of millions of dollars' worth of LED lights to job creation requires competitive bidding, some council members remain skeptical that it's a good deal for the city.

 

A joint council committee met Wednesday for the first of several hearings on the LED issue. It quickly became evident during the meeting that council opponents of the initial LED legislation are not ready to embrace this latest try.

 

Those members continued to question whether some of the LED lights the city proposes to buy would save on energy costs, wondered about the wisdom of giving one company a 10-year contract and were unsure if the effort at creating a new economic model for city purchasing is viable. Finally, there continues to be mistrust of the administration.

 

Darnell Brown, Jackson's chief operating officer, said the new ordinance gives companies the chance to prove claims that they can deliver both LED lights and jobs. The ordinance, which must be approved by council, requires the winning bidder to create at least 350 jobs and build a manufacturing plant and research facility in Cleveland.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/cleveland_city_council_committ.html

 

Case Western Reserve University officials tell Cleveland council members about the benefits of LED lights

Published: Wednesday, July 07, 2010, 4:08 PM

Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Case Western Reserve University has begun to embrace the energy savings that LED lighting can provide, although on a far smaller scale than what the city of Cleveland proposes.

 

 

The university's facilities services director and an engineering professor testified about the benefits of the high-tech lights Wednesday before a City Council committee that is considering LED-related legislation proposed by Mayor Frank Jackson.

 

Jackson wants council to approve a 10-year contract to buy millions of dollars in LED street and traffic lights, tube lights and light bulbs from one company in exchange for the company building a manufacturing and research facility in the city and creating at least 350 jobs.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/case_western_reserve_officials.html

 

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson closes in on getting approval for his LED lights legislation

Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:00 AM   

Mark Gillispie

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Barring any 11th-hour drama, Mayor Frank Jackson will likely get permission today from City Council to find a company willing to sell the city LED lights in exchange for building a manufacturing and research facility here.

 

Jackson has the votes, although the exact number is unclear. If at least 13 of council's 19 members give their approval this evening, the legislation will be formally adopted as an "emergency" measure. If there are only 12 "yes" votes, which means he lacks a super majority, he will have to wait until council's Aug. 18 meeting for the ordinance to be approved on a third and final reading.

 

Council's summer recess has given members a chance to gather testimony about the pending legislation. Members have heard from a government lighting expert who cast doubt about the city's approach; a market analyst who thinks the best chance of building a cluster of LED-related businesses is to include GE in the mix; and a Case Western Reserve University economics professor who said she was intrigued by the concept of tying purchasing to economic development.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/cleveland_mayor_frank_jackson_16.html

 

This is simply putting lipstick on a pig. Why there are no performance specifications makes no sense and will only give us taxpayers sub-par lighting products. Also a company that has great traffic signal LEDs may have terrible street light LEDs. Third LED fluorescent replacements are no where close to being cost effective to this point.

 

It appears as if Jackson is still steering this towards a favored supplier.

 

Frustrating.

It seems to me Mayor Jackson is more concerned about "creating jobs" (or giving the appearance of job creation) with this deal then getting quality lighting products for the city.  Which is more important?  Honestly, I'm not sure, but specs for the lighting products need to be drawn up by the city engineers to ensure we get quality products.

It seems to me Mayor Jackson is more concerned about "creating jobs" (or giving the appearance of job creation) with this deal then getting quality lighting products for the city. Which is more important? Honestly, I'm not sure, but specs for the lighting products need to be drawn up by the city engineers to ensure we get quality products.

 

In the end he will do neither.  No jobs, no lights. 

If the legislation only required that the winning bidder build a factory which employs 300 workers, instead of saying the company MUST move it's headquarters, I think we would have less drama.  However, it appears that this deal is no different, and leaves one of the region's greatest companies out of the picture.

If the legislation only required that the winning bidder build a factory which employs 300 workers, instead of saying the company MUST move it's headquarters, I think we would have less drama.  However, it appears that this deal is no different, and leaves one of the region's greatest companies out of the picture.

 

The posted article only says that the company must build a research and manufacturing facility here.

Cleveland City Council finally passes legislation to seek bids for purchase of LED lights

Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 11:58 PM   

Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland City Council finally approved Mayor Frank Jackson's controversial legislation aimed at purchasing millions of dollars' worth of LED lights.

 

The measure passed, 12-7, Wednesday with council members Dona Brady, Tony Brancatelli, Brian Cummins, Jeff Johnson, Mike Polensek, Zack Reed and Jay Westbrook casting dissenting votes.

 

It was the Jackson administration's second try at convincing council to give one company the exclusive right to sell the city LED street lights, tube lights and traffic lights for 10 years in exchange for building a manufacturing facility here and creating 350 jobs.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/08/cleveland_city_council_finally.html

 

This doesn't sound too bad at all:

 

GE Lighting offers jobs, money to win Cleveland's bid for LED lights

Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, 7:00 AM   

Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- GE Lighting Solutions hopes its offer of jobs and money will garner Cleveland's business for high-tech lights even though its bid did not meet the city's specifications.

 

GE publicly disclosed for the first time Monday that it would create 50 jobs in Cleveland and give the city $150,000 a year during the proposed 10-year contract. The cash is roughly what the city would receive in income taxes from 350 full-time workers making $10 an hour.

 

Mayor Frank Jackson is looking for a company willing to build a manufacturing and research facility in Cleveland and create 350 jobs in exchange for the right to sell the city light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/12/ge_lighting_offers_jobs_money.html

 

 

 

 

^This whole thing got real messy and the mayor should just accept the bid and move this thing along.  GE has made what appears to be an honest, realistic bid.  We should listen to their advise and make this deal on the terms they've proposed.  It would be good for the city and region.

I really like the proposal of putting more workers in the Ivanhoe plant.  With Collinwood High right next door, maybe there could be some way students could help in the production of lights... 

I hope there's a way to get a few more jobs but if not, I guess mayor Jackson should take it. At least the city would be getting the same amount of money as if there were 350 jobs.

Well that was an altogether unsatisfying story from start to finish.

 

City of Cleveland rejects its only two bids for LED lights

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/01/city_of_cleveland_rejects_its.html

^Just buy the damn lights.  I appreciate that they're trying to be creative and bring jobs to the city, but they're expectations are clearly out of line with reality.  GE seemed to have a solid proposal... should have went with them.

 

I'm not sure why the city is so in love with LED fluorescent tube replacements either.  The technology clearly isn't there yet.  The city would be wasting a ton of money on an unproven technology that the experts say is inferior to current fluorescent tube technology.  Who the hell is writing the city lighting specifications?

and didnt someone mention that LEDs dont really get hot which would be a problem in the winter with the snow sticking to them?

^^ Really?  50 jobs and a little cash for 10 years worth of purchasing, and GE doesn't even make the product that the City wants?  Doesn't sound that solid to me.  I'm actually kind of glad that they aren't setting a precedent for letting a company write its own terms for a long-term contract.

 

I do agree that LED lighting might not be the best product for our needs right now, though.

^^ Really?  50 jobs and a little cash for 10 years worth of purchasing, and GE doesn't even make the product that the City wants?  Doesn't sound that solid to me.  I'm actually kind of glad that they aren't setting a precedent for letting a company write its own terms for a long-term contract.

 

I do agree that LED lighting might not be the best product for our needs right now, though.

 

LED's do work for a number of city needs, mainly street lights, traffic lights, and some interior lights.  The city want the replace their current fluorescent tube lighting (the stuff you see in most offices) with LED tubes.  GE has stated (correctly) that they don't make that product because it's not currently a marketable product.  As in it doesn't make economic sense for the manufacturer or the consumer (AKA the city).  They would cost too much and provide inferior lighting.  Not sure why the city wants them so bad.  Maybe they want to be the first "All LED City". 

 

And, IMO, ANY jobs are good enough for this deal.  These are consumer products people... it's not like they're unique to Cleveland.  Nearly every city purchases LED products.  What makes Cleveland so special that it can demand a manufacturing center be part of their purchase?  When you buy light bulbs at home depot do you ask them to throw in a shed?  If you did, I can guarantee those light bulbs are going to be a lot more expensive than they would be in the free market.  It's like those places that advertise "buy 3 tires get 1 free!"... yeah right.  :roll:

 

I just don't understand what the city is trying to accomplish here.  They wanted to attract a company to setup shop in Cleveland as part of the deal.  It was a great idea that hasn't panned out.  Get over it and move on to purchasing LED products that make economic sense for the city.  Every demand they make to the manufacturer has a direct impact on their quote.  Nothing is free.  Demanding 350 jobs?  They'll be happy to quote you for those jobs.

 

Now where did I put my magic job-creating pixie dust?  Probably right next to my unobtanium.

and didnt someone mention that LEDs dont really get hot which would be a problem in the winter with the snow sticking to them?

 

This isn't as big of a problem as some have claimed.  It does happen, but it takes circumstances that don't occur during every winter snow.  It's those snows that stick to the side of buildings that cause the lights to be blocked.  We really don't see those too often.  A simple heating element similar to the defroster in the rear windshield of your car would fix the problem too.  But that sure would waste a lot of energy to fix a relatively rare problem.

Now where did I put my magic job-creating pixie dust?  Probably right next to my unobtanium.

 

I was just giving my opinion, and I appreciate you giving your insight.  No need to be a dick about it.

Now where did I put my magic job-creating pixie dust? Probably right next to my unobtanium.

 

I was just giving my opinion, and I appreciate you giving your insight. No need to be a dick about it.

 

Meant for it to be a dig at the city/mayor, not you.  I'm trying to point out that their demands have a cost... a cost that they don't seem to want to bear.