Stolen copper poses a persistent issue in Los Angeles, but the city has come up with a novel solution: installing solar-powered streetlights to deter thieves.
Los Angeles Switches to Solar-Powered Streetlights to Combat Copper Wire Theft and Improve Safety
In a bid to address the growing issue of copper wire theft from streetlights, the city of Los Angeles has begun a transition to solar-powered streetlights. These new lights, which are not connected to the power grid and have no copper wire to steal, are being hailed as a success by city officials and residents alike.
The first large-scale deployment of these solar lights took place in early 2024, with 106 lights being installed in the Van Nuys neighborhood. Since then, the city has rolled out hundreds more in the Watts, Boyle Heights, and Historic Filipinotown neighborhoods.
Councilmember Imelda Padilla, a Democrat who represents Van Nuys, stated that among community members, "the sentiment continues to be that they're great and that we need to see more of them in the city."
The goal in Van Nuys was to create a "maintenance-free zone," and so far, the department hasn't had to deal with a single instance of damage related to theft and vandalism in the neighborhood. This is a stark contrast to the past, where rising prices of copper have made it more lucrative to steal, contributing to an increase in theft and vandalism. In the last decade, these issues have grown from a few percent of the Bureau of Street Lighting's service requests to 40% today.
Residents in affected neighborhoods have long complained about pitch-black areas that feel unsafe. However, these solar-powered streetlights, equipped with batteries that charge during the day and discharge at night, are allowing families and single women and children to enjoy the Southern California weather late into the night.
The deployment of these solar streetlights in various Los Angeles neighborhoods is also reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by introducing more clean energy into major cities. According to estimates, deploying 10 of these solar-powered streetlights in Europe would cut carbon emissions by 60 metric tons over four decades.
Other U.S. cities, such as Clark County (home to Las Vegas), St. Paul, Minnesota, and San Jose, California, are considering or have already started testing or installing solar streetlights to combat the issue of copper wire theft. The city in the United States that began testing off-grid solar light lamps in 2022 to avoid reliance on a large power grid and reduce copper wire theft is not identified in the provided search results.
Miguel Sangalang, executive director and general manager of LA's Bureau of Street Lighting, stated that the transition has been successful. Since 2020, the city has spent over $100 million repairing such damage, but with the shift to solar-powered streetlights, these costs are expected to decrease significantly.
Councilmember Padilla also mentioned that lighting is the best deterrent to crime. With these new solar-powered streetlights, not only is the city addressing the issue of copper wire theft, but it is also making its neighborhoods safer and more enjoyable for its residents.
