San José, Costa Rica – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Costa Rican electric utility, Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz, S.A. (CNFL), for a feasibility study to support the deployment of networked light emitting diode (LED) street lights throughout CNFL’s service territory.

By installing nearly 100,000 “smart” street lights, including LED luminaries and communications capabilities, CNFL aims to improve the quality and reliability of its public lighting network, while also reducing operation and maintenance costs. This project supports the goals of the Clean Energy Finance Facility for the Caribbean and Central America (CEFF-CCA), an inter-agency initiative to catalyze greater public and private sector investment in clean energy infrastructure across Central America and the Caribbean. Earlier this month, USTDA announced a CEFF-CCA grant for a similar smart street lighting project in Jamaica. These were the first grants signed under CEFF-CCA.

“USTDA is pleased to partner with CNFL on this important energy efficiency project,” said Nathan Younge, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This project will allow CNFL to replace traditional street lights with a network of energy-saving LED street lights that the utility can continuously monitor and control throughout the greater San José metropolitan area. USTDA looks forward to continuing to support additional clean energy initiatives in the region.”

The grant was signed by CNFL General Manager Víctor Solís Rodríguez and by Senior Regional Energy Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, Faith Corneille, on behalf of CNFL and the U.S. government, respectively.

Businesses interested in submitting proposals for this USTDA-funded feasibility study should visit the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website at www.fbo.gov. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at https://www.ustda.gov/business-opportunities.

About USTDA

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.

Press release by USTDA