Challenge: As Santa Fe, New Mexico, continues to grow, new development on the southwest edge of town is placing increasing demands on existing roads. To improve connectivity and traffic flow, Santa Fe County launched a major infrastructure project including nearly four miles of new roadway and six roundabouts. The project initially called for conventional streetlights, but engineers later discovered that extending electrical service to the lighting locations would add roughly $1 million to the project cost.Solution: Seeking an alternative, the project’s design engineers worked with lighting partner Acuity, who identified solar as a way to avoid trenching, wiring, and long-term electricity costs. Acuity partnered with Sol to deploy 48 EverGen solar lighting systems paired with AEL Autobahn fixtures. The solution met roadway lighting requirements while complying with New Mexico’s Night Sky Protection Act. Detailed engineering specifications and a 10-year warranty helped give the County confidence in the solar approach.Impact: Installed in January 2025 with support from Sol’s technical team, the solar lighting systems have performed reliably while helping the project finish ahead of schedule and under budget. Residents now benefit from improved nighttime visibility along the new roads, supporting safer travel and smoother commutes as the community continues to grow.