Las Cruces Votes to Go 100 Percent Renewable

Environment New Mexico

Las Cruces, NM – Today, the Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously to get 100 percent of its municipal energy from renewable sources by 2050. The council also approved a goal for the city to power its facilities with 25 percent solar by 2022.

“As our state’s second largest city, Las Cruces can pave the way for New Mexico to be a national solar leader,” said Las Cruces City Councilor Gill Sorg. “I am proud to sponsor this resolution, which will bring the many benefits of clean energy to our community.”

At the meeting, citizens testified in favor of the goals, noting that increased levels of solar energy use by the city would mean clean air, lower energy costs and meaningful action to fight climate change.

“Setting a strong solar goal for the City of Las Cruces will mean a more sustainable future for our residents, while the government can save on energy costs over time,” said Lisa LaRocque, the sustainability officer for the City of Las Cruces.

Leading up to the vote, more than 40 businesses, 25 professors, elected officials, and 300 residents signed letters and petitions that were submitted to the City Council encouraging the to adoption of solar and wind energy.

“We applaud the Las Cruces City Council for setting a strong goal for solar and renewable energy,” said Sanders Moore, director of Environment New Mexico. “Solar energy protects our environment by decreasing air and water pollution, and improves public health. I am very proud that the Las Cruces City Councilors unanimously voted to embrace solar energy and move our city and state to a future powered by New Mexico’s clean natural resources, the sun and the wind.”