To see the convention center photovoltaic system information, click here.

To see a presentation made to city council on the photovoltaic system, click here.

LAS CRUCES - What's up at the Las Cruces Convention Center might be best described as "watts down."

By the end of the month, city officials are expected to finalize a $440,859 contract with DPW Solar Corp., of Albuquerque, to install a photovoltaic array along the southern edge of the convention center's parking lot. The system is anticipated to generate 58.5 kilowatts of solar energy that can be converted into electricity for the convention center.

According to city documents, the system should produce roughly 110,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year at a cost of $3.39 a kilowatt hour. A 12-month study will be conducted to determine how much savings in electricity is achieved by the city at the convention center.

"It's been a long time in coming," city Councilor Nathan Small said of the alternative energy system. "At one time there wasn't enough attention being paid to this component of construction."

The convention center becomes the third major construction project to be completed in the past year. A new

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City Hall opened in April, and that was followed by the opening of the Las Cruces Regional Aquatics Center, in early October. A City Council goal in each of those projects was to incorporate some kind of renewable energy program.

Eric Martin, city project management administrator, said the solar photovoltaic system will also double as a shaded carport canopy along the southern end of the convention center's parking lot. DPW Solar Corp. is anticipated to begin installation of the system within the next six to eight weeks, and the solar array should be working by late April or early May.

"At this point, there are no estimates on the amount of savings that might be achieved," Martin said. "That's where the study will come in. There will be monthly monitoring of the photovoltaic system and all of that data will be compiled and submitted to the city."

The convention center had a "soft" opening last month, and several smaller events have been conducted there. David Hicks, general manager of the convention center, said that because the building has only been open for a short time, data on electricity consumption and costs are still being compiled.

"Right now, it's kind of hard to tell what the (electricity) usage will be, much less how much of a savings could be achieved with this photovoltaic system," Hicks said. "I would think we'll have a better idea of all of that at maybe six months, 12 months down the road."

Some of the preliminary work to make the alternative energy system operational has already been done. Martin said the city's contract with Jaynes Construction to build the convention center included the installation of underground conduit so that cables to the system can be run into the convention center without further digging required.

"A lot of the groundwork is already done," Hicks said. "That should make installation of the system go that much sooner."

The system will be paid through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus, funding. The funding does not require matching city funds.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.

Alternative energy

•A $440,859 photovoltaic system will be installed at the Las Cruces Convention Center.

•The project will be paid for through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

•The system will be erected along the southern edge of the convention center's parking lot.

•It will also serve as a shade structure for vehicles to park under.

•The system will be able to produce 58.5 kilowatts of electricity, or the equivalent of 110,000-kilowatt hours of electricity in a year.

•The system is expected to be operational by late April or early May.