DORSET Council will consider a £2 million investment aimed at cutting energy bills, reducing carbon emissions and improving the reliability of public lighting across the county.

At a cabinet meeting later this month, councillors will be asked to approve £1.3 million to accelerate the replacement of older streetlights with modern LED units, alongside £700,000 for the next phase of solar panels on council-owned buildings.

The proposals form part of a £10 million climate and ecology fund agreed in 2022/23 to run until 2027.

Around £6 million has already been spent on energy efficiency measures, electric vehicle charging points and earlier phases of solar panels and lighting upgrades.

About £4 million remains, with the two large schemes now coming forward for approval.

If agreed, up to 4,000 older street lighting units would be replaced during 2026 and 2027.

The council estimates this would save around 425,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year – roughly the amount used by 160 typical homes – and cut annual costs by about £115,000.

Street lighting accounts for around 8% of the council’s own carbon emissions.

The solar programme would see further panels installed on council buildings as part of a wider 2.25-megawatt scheme.

Dorset Council’s share of the investment is expected to save around 330,000 kilowatt hours and £70,000 a year, with potential additional income from electricity exported back to the grid.

Leader of Dorset Council and cabinet member for climate Cllr Nick Ireland said: “This is good housekeeping.

“We’re cutting our energy bills, reducing future maintenance risk, and shrinking our carbon footprint at the same time.

“Investing now in LEDs and solar lowers our running costs for years to come – money we can keep focused on essential services – and helps us deliver reliable, modern services across Dorset.”

Cabinet will consider the proposals on January 29.