Last year in San Jose, California, the local government had turned off streetlights in some district to meet the environmental goals, while this year, more LED lamps could be installed in the next few months to get the same result.

To reach Mayor Chuck Reed's Green Vision aim of powering the city's 62,000 streetlights with renewable energy, the city’s Transportation and Environment Committee will come up with some steps on April 6.

In August 2008, 900 streetlights in industrial areas were shut off, while after  the city transportation officials receiving 170 complaint calls,15 lights were switched back on  for safety and other reasons.

This year, 6,000 more lights have been planned to be shut off on arterial roads such as Stevens Creek Boulevard, San Carlos Street, Winchester Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road, which could save the city $350,000 in the first year. But on March 25, in a letter from Chief Development Officer Paul Krutko, the transportation committee was informed that installing more LED devices instead would save about half the power of the city's typical high-pressure sodium bulb and ballast.

If turn off the streetlights completely, the police patrol costs used to cover the dark areas would not offset the savings, said Krutko. And some business leaders in industrial areas have expressed concerns about the safety of employees who have night shifts, he added.

If the direction to shut off the lights is approved by transportation committee on April 6, the city council could vote on it later in April.