August 2013
Tesuque-area residents, volunteer firefighters, solar energy advocates and Santa Fe County officials on Wednesday evening celebrated the completion of a solar installation project at the Tesuque Fire and Rescue Station — the first county firehouse with solar power.
The $18,900, 6.1-kilowatt solar panel system, a project that began in May, was half-funded by the county under a May resolution sponsored by County Commissioners Robert Anaya and Danny Mayfield. The rest of the money for the project came from the nonprofit New Energy Economy as part of its “Sol not Coal” campaign, which works to bring solar panels to area buildings through community donations.
“What we’ve done is fundraise from our community, and a number of businesses were involved,” said Mariel Nanasi, New Energy Economy’s executive director. “One of the ways that we fundraised was to have a table outside La Montanita Co-op — and these are dimes and nickels and checks helping to raise the money.”
Powered entirely by energy from the solar panels during the day, the Tesuque firehouse will send excess power back into the Public Service Company of New Mexico grid during the day, and take power from the grid at night.
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