Chenango Forks is replacing over 5,000 lights with LED's. State aid will cover nearly 80 percent of the $3.7 million project, or about $3 million. NYSEG is giving Chenango Forks $250,000. That still leaves under half a million dollars for the district to cover. The district financed its share of the project and after annual payments forks will have an overall reduction of energy-related costs of $100,000.


"But again, we're saving $100,000 a year in lighting with $250,000 given to us by the state, the state had to pick up the rest of the cost, we didn't have to go to the taxpayers, we didn’t have to raise taxes and we didn't have to go and get a vote,” said CF district superintendent Lloyd Peck.


The district expects 90 percent of the project to be complete by the time school begins.