On May 18, LightNOW reported here that Cleveland was considering a 10-year deal giving Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor Ltd. exclusive rights to sell millions of LED lights to the city in exchange for the company making Cleveland its North American headquarters, creating an estimated 350 jobs. The proposed deal naturally irritated GE Lighting, which is based in Cleveland.
Associated Press is now reporting that Mayor Frank Jackson has yanked the deal, but still wants a lighting deal and will reopen the process.
The deal reportedly involved potentially large numbers of LED T8 replacement lamps (as well as outdoor lights), so in axing the deal Cleveland may have dodged a bullet. For now.
