Ledyard — The Town Council Finance Committee on Wednesday night began the process of selecting a test site for LED lighting as it weighs a switch to the energy-efficient fixtures for the town's streetlamps.

Committee members began discussing the move in January, after Mayoral Assistant Mark Bancroft presented some estimates from light fixture contractor Tanko Lighting. Bancroft has been looking into the potential savings of the switch for about a year and a half.

The town is following similar moves in Montville, East Lyme and New London, which all have approved streetlight conversion projects in the last two years.

Currently Eversource owns the streetlights, which haven't been upgraded in years, Bancroft said. Under the proposal, the town would purchase the streetlights and convert the fixtures to LED.

An initial estimate from Tanko said the town could save a little over $900,000 over 20 years between Ledyard and Gales Ferry if both switched over to LED lights. When considered against the project's $177,274 conversion cost, the project would pay for itself in about four years.

The Gales Ferry district pays for its streetlights through a separate, supplementary tax bill.

Streetlights near both the Ledyard Fairgrounds and ones near Judge Crandall Field are being considered as a potential test site so that committee members and residents can see the new lights.

n.lynch@theday.com