Cleveland City Council Open to Bids for LED Street Light Project and Manufacturing Plant in City

August 19, 2010... LED-based street lights are being adopted by municipal governments around the world as an economical alternative for lighting city streets. The city of Cleveland, Ohio is uniquely offering an exclusive 10-year contract to supply LED-based street and traffic lights in return for opening a local manufacturing plant that employs city residents.

The city's mayor, Frank Jackson, previously attempted to make a deal with a China-based company for the exclusive contract in exchange for opening a manufacturing plant. However, the city council required that there be a competitive bidding process for the contract.

The person who served as the go-between with the Chinese company was apparently part owner of the Chinese company's North American operations.

On Wednesday, the city council approved the contract and opened the contract up for competitive bids. The vote was reportedly 12-7. Opponents of the project contract were reportedly fearful that the contract locked the city into a deal that would be too long amid the rapidly evolving LED technology, according to Cleveland's news radio website, WTAM.com.

Mayor Jackson indicated in the article that he hoped the Chinese company would still consider working with the city.

Source/Type: Solid State Lighting Design LED Lighting News - News - Staff reports

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