Mayor Karen Bass launches program to install 60,000 solar-powered lights

Mayor Karen Bass announced a plan to install 60,000 solar-powered streetlights in Los Angeles to address a backlog of about 32,000 repair requests; officials said the work will take place over roughly two years and that the solar units avoid copper wiring and include battery storage.

Mayor Karen Bass announced a program to install 60,000 solar-powered streetlights across Los Angeles to address a long-running backlog of repair requests. The administration said the work will include tens of thousands of installations and repairs over about two years and aims to reduce outages tied to theft and aging equipment. City officials pointed to infrastructure funding that has not changed since 1996 and to a large increase in copper wire theft over the past decade as contributing factors. Several city council members have also used discretionary funds to repair and modernize lights in their districts. Key details: - The initiative targets installation or repair of 60,000 solar-powered streetlights citywide. - Officials said the effort aims to address roughly 32,000 outstanding service requests over about two years. - City statements linked the backlog to infrastructure funding unchanged since 1996 and a reported 1,200% rise in copper wire theft over the last decade. - The mayor's office described the solar alternatives as not using copper wiring and as including battery storage to provide light during grid disruptions. - Several council members have allocated discretionary funds to fix or upgrade streetlights in their districts. Summary: City officials said the program is meant to modernize aging streetlight infrastructure, reduce vulnerability to theft, and restore lighting where outages have accumulated. The city plans to carry out installations and repairs over the next two years. Specific timelines and neighborhood-level rollout details were not provided.