NEARLY 3000 people have signed an online petition to change street lights to environmentally-friendly fluorescent bulbs.

At least 2768 people are supporting the Give Our Streets the Green Light campaign, which is petitioning the State and Federal Governments to help local councils with the high upfront cost of switching to more energy-efficient street lights.

“It just makes sense,” signatory Shoni from Footscray said.

“I’ve done my bit at home by changing my light bulbs. The State Government should support the same thing for our streets.”

Maribyrnong City Council is one of 45 councils that have joined forces with the Municipal Association of Victoria in the statewide advocacy campaign.

Streetlights account for 49 per cent of Maribyrnong’s carbon emissions.

State-wide, Victoria could save 1.56 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions if existing street lamps are replaced by energy-efficient lamps.

Maribyrnong City Council had hoped to make the switch last year during a local lighting changeover, but was told by electrical supplier Jemena it would cost more than $1.6 million to change the municipality’s 4600 street lights over.

Because the pricing issue was resolved late in the budget planning cycle, the council could not afford to include the sum in the budget process.

Meanwhile, a Hoppers Crossing man in confident he can help councils switch to green lighting.

A Star report last week revealed Adam Carey had recruited international public lighting experts Citelum to better manage public lighting in Australia.

Mr Carey said he had plans to develop a large-scale solar renewal energy power plant that would be grid-tied to the public lighting network out in the West.