Luna County leaders joined Schneider Electric beneath the new solar canopy at the District Court in Deming, New Mexico, to celebrate the completion of the county’s first solar and energy-efficiency project. The celebration included the flip of a ceremonial light switch, signaling that the new systems were ready to serve county facilities.
The project completion celebration highlighted upgrades across several county facilities, including solar photovoltaic systems, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging and building automation. The improvements are expected to reduce the county’s annual energy use by approximately 35%.
For Luna County, about 100 miles west of El Paso, the project began with a practical goal: lowering long-term operating costs and making public dollars go further.
“We’re government. We rely on property tax and gross receipts tax, and we have to live within our means,” Luna County Manager Chris Brice said. “That’s why we’re always looking for ways to save money.”
Putting natural resources to work
Sunshine is one resource Luna County has in abundance. Located in southwestern New Mexico, the county has a long history rooted in farming, ranching and making practical use of the land.
For County Commissioner Christie Ann Harvey, the project builds on the community’s longstanding relationship with its natural resources.
“We’re incredibly resilient people, so we’re used to using our resources to our best ability,” Harvey said. “This is heavy agriculture and farming land, and obviously that depends on sunshine. So we look to the sun naturally as a way to power the things that we do here.”
The project puts that resource to work across facilities that serve different community needs:
- District court: A solar canopy shades 15 parking spaces and is designed to offset up to 70% of the building’s electricity use. Additional improvements include two public electric vehicle charging stations and a building automation system.
- Detention center: A ground-mounted solar system serves a facility that operates around the clock and has the highest electricity consumption among county facilities.
- Starmax Entertainment Center: A rooftop solar system helps power a community destination with attractions including bowling, an arcade and a movie theater.
- Four county facilities: LED lighting upgrades help reduce energy use and maintenance needs.
Stretching public dollars further
The county combined a New Mexico state matching grant and an estimated $2.3 million in federal Investment tax credit reimbursement to limit pressure on local funds.
The project is also expected to deliver approximately $3.5 million in utility and operational savings over 25 years.
Those savings can help Luna County manage public facilities while preserving resources for services residents use. One example is Starmax Entertainment Center, which is owned and operated by the county.
“Lower operating costs help us manage our budget without raising ticket or concession prices,” Starmax Director Bryan Reedy said. “That helps keep Starmax affordable for our local community.”
Planning for the years ahead
Luna County worked with Schneider Electric to plan and implement a complex project spanning multiple county facilities. Coordinating solar installations, lighting upgrades, electric vehicle charging and building automation across several facilities required a unified approach that accounted for the needs of each site.
A key part of the county’s strategy was choosing a long-term partner with a strong regional presence. Schneider Electric has longstanding manufacturing operations just across the state line in El Paso.
For Luna County residents, the solar canopy at the district court may be the project’s most visible feature. Its broader value will develop over time through lower energy use, on-site power generation and more predictable operating costs.
“It sends a strong message that you have competent leadership that cares about the future of our people and wants to invest wisely today and as we move forward,” Harvey said. “This is a good place to live, work and play.”
The ceremonial switch marked the completion of construction and the start of operations for systems designed to serve Luna County facilities for years to come.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory. With 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.
Follow us on:
Learn more about Advancing Energy Tech on Schneider Electric Insights
The post Luna County, New Mexico, completes landmark solar and energy-efficiency project appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More