Norwich — Another new era will begin Friday at the nearly 160-year-old Norwich Free Academy, as permanent energy-efficient light towers will shine down on the athletic field for the first time in the Wildcats' home opener football game against the East Lyme High School Vikings.

The $430,107 project, approved by the NFA board of trustees in March and completed during the summer, included installing light towers designed to project light downward onto the field and NFA grounds while not spilling into the surrounding neighborhood.

Additional lights were added to the project for grounds security.

The academy plans a multifaceted celebration, dubbed "NFA Shines," Friday to usher in the new lights. An invitation-only reception will be held at the Slater Memorial Museum Atrium, and a pre-game ceremony will begin on the field at 6:30 p.m.

And because the addition of nighttime outdoor sports events on campus is expected to boost the local economy, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and Norwich Public Utilities have joined in the celebration, offering grants for the project as well as discounts at eight local eateries.

NPU awarded the project two grants totaling $125,000 through energy conservation and economic development programs, NPU General Manager John Bilda said.

NPU is providing $25,000 through its commercial energy conservation incentives and rebate programs and a $100,000 economic development grant using funds provided to the utility by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, the umbrella organization of municipally owned utilities.

NFA worked with NPU to identify high-efficiency equipment and hardware for the project to lower operating costs, Bilda said. NPU projected NFA will save about $15,000 in field lighting each year. Bilda said NPU was pleased to work with the city institution and also to assist in bringing economic development to the city by attracting more visitors and traffic to city restaurants and businesses.

"This is basically a 20-year project and touches all the things that NPU is about," Bilda said.

Over the past seven years, NFA and NPU have partnered on 11 separate energy efficiency projects that have resulted in more than $70,000 in annual savings for the school.

With the new lights, NFA also hopes to attract regional and statewide high school sports events to the athletic field.

"Tonight, NFA, the jewel of Norwich, shines brighter than ever," a statement in Friday's game program says. "For the first time in the Academy's almost 160 years, permanent lights illuminate the field. Tonight's celebration honors Wildcats of all ages. Thank you for joining in this historic celebration."

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