World’s Largest Single Installation of Solar Street Lights Illuminates Rebuilding Efforts in Middle East

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Contact: Matt Cirrito
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FALLUJAH, Iraq, Sept. 24, 2007— With a marked decline in insurgent activity in recent months, Fallujah is on the road to a much brighter future thanks to the world’s largest single installation of solar lighting. The US Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the effort to illuminate Fallujah’s main roadways through the installation of 1050 solar powered SEPCO street lights. The project began on Aug. 7, 2007 with Fallujah laborers digging the holes, anchoring the 9-meter steel poles in concrete, and mounting the SEPCO solar power assemblies and light fixtures. The lighting systems contain photovoltaic sensors that turn the lights on at sundown and off at sunrise. Currently, the city’s main east-west thoroughfare has the new street lights up and running. Work in other parts of the city continues at an installation rate of approximately 20 street lights per day.

“The project is bringing a ton of smiles to the people of Fallujah because they can see that things are getting better” said U.S. ARMY Corps of Engineers project engineer Troy Swofford. “You can see other signs of improvement as well. The main thoroughfare where the new lights are operating is no longer covered in dirt and garbage, the street curbs have a fresh coat of paint and in various parts of Fallujah, I even see new shops opening.” Swofford, who has worked for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for 20 years, went on to say “What’s great about the solar street light project is that it provides clear evidence of how this 21st century technology works in this climate.”

Fallujah is not the only city in the Middle East using solar power street lights to improve living conditions. “To date, we have supplied 4 cities in Iraq and 17 villages in Afghanistan with our solar electric lighting systems" said SEPCO founder and CEO, Steve Robbins. “It’s ironic, in many ways, that the success of our efforts in the Middle East is fueling the success of similar projects here in the U.S,” Robbins said, adding that “The City of Dania Beach, FL recently completed the largest solar powered street light project in the U.S. with the installation of 124 solar powered SEPCO street lights.”

About Solar Electric Power Company (SEPCO)—SEPCO is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of easy to install, low maintenance, commercial solar electric lighting and power systems. Stuart, FL based SEPCO was founded in 1994 by Steve Robbins—a visionary solar energy pioneer for over 27 years. For more information, visit www.sepconet.com or call 800-974-9918.