Governor Bill Richardson Announces New Mexico's LED Traffic Light Retrofit Completed

Press Release

Governor Bill Richardson today announced the switch to light emitting diode
(LED) traffic lights in 33 communities around the state has been completed. This replacement will save approximately 4 million kilowatt-hours of energy from this Earth Day to the next, which is enough to power more than 500 average homes for a year.

"Today's the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and a day to celebrate what we in New Mexico are doing to combat climate change," said Governor Richardson. "This LED traffic retrofit saves money and energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes energy conservation and efficiency -- all of which help us reach our energy use reduction goals."

The traffic light retrofit project was funded with $2.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and managed by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. The State Department of Transportation and Bixby Electric of Albuquerque carried out the work in coordination with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

"New, more efficient traffic signals are just one more way we are making New Mexico the clean energy state," said Jon Goldstein, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

Thousands of new LED traffic signal lamps installed at 330 intersections throughout New Mexico will save up to 80% of energy used for conventional incandescent lights that run 24/7.

"During tough economic times, every dollar counts," said Gary Girón, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Transportation. "Local governments will see immediate cost savings while helping the environment through a reduced energy footprint."

From Santa Teresa to Raton, from Shiprock to Hobbs, and in 28 other communities in between, the LED retrofit of state highway traffic intersections is already giving towns and municipalities throughout New Mexico much-reduced utility bills and big energy savings.

LED traffic light arrays use 6 to 12 watts of energy per lamp (depending on the color), compared to 150 watts used by the each of the incandescent light bulbs they replaced. In addition, LED lamps are much brighter, providing improved safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, and last four to nine years longer, affording lower maintenance costs.

The communities and the number of intersections in the Recovery Act-funded project include Artesia (6), Aztec (4), Bayard (1), Bernalillo County (39), Bloomfield (2), Carlsbad (10), Clovis (25), Farmington (57), Fruitland (1), Grants (6), Hobbs (33), Kirtland (1), La Luz (1), Las Cruces (58), Los Alamos (3), Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (2), Lovington (3), Moriarty (2), Peralta (1),
Portales (5), Questa (1), Raton (6), Roswell (18), Ruidoso (9), San Juan County (1), Santa Fe County (4), Santa Teresa (2), Shiprock (5), Silver City (10), Sunland Park (1), Truth or Consequences (1), Taos (10), and Tucumcari (2). Albuquerque is replacing its traffic lights under a separate program.

Flashing lights used for school crossings, advance warnings, and intersections were also retrofit with LEDs at over 250 statewide locations.

For more information about LEDs and energy savings, visit www.CleanEnergyNM.org.

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