Santa Fe County Sheriff Unveils First Electric Patrol Vehicles

On February 29th, Sheriff Mendoza and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to unveil their electric vehicle pilot program and the newest additions to their fleet, two all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning Trucks. The Sheriff’s Office is one of the first law enforcement organizations in New Mexico to deploy electric patrol vehicles. Both vehicles are expected to hit the streets of Santa Fe County in the coming weeks. Equipped with emergency lights, specialized gear, and electricity-themed branding, one of the vehicles will primarily support recruitment efforts, while the other will be deployed for patrol duties.

The electric vehicle pilot program aims to identify electric vehicles' unique advantages and limitations within a law enforcement environment characterized by heavy vehicle usage, long travel distances, and extended equipment and power needs. With a range of approximately 320 miles per charge and costing roughly $13,000 more than similarly equipped internal combustion engine patrol vehicles, these vehicles represent a significant initial step towards reducing transportation emissions and modernizing the County fleet. It is anticipated the return on investment will be realized relatively quickly, given the lowered maintenance and fuel costs for EVs. Lessons learned from the electric vehicle pilot program will inform future fleet purchasing decisions and contribute to ongoing efforts to transition the county fleet to electric and low/no carbon vehicles by 2045.

New PV Installations at the La Familia Medical Center and Public Works Complex

Santa Fe County installed two photovoltaic (PV) systems at the La Familia Medical Center and Public Works Complex this month. Located at 2145 Caja del Oro Grant Rd, the La Familia Medical Center is owned by Santa Fe County and is one of four clinics operated by La Familia Health. La Familia provides a range of medical, dental, and behavioral health services for over 15,000 individuals annually, and 1 out of 10 County residents are patients of La Familia. Made up of two separate 43.4 kW and 16.7 kW PV systems, the La Familia Solar project is funded through a State capital grant. It is anticipated to offset 100% of the facilities’ electricity use. As a result, La Familia Health will save over $1,000 per month in utility costs, supporting the organization's long-term viability and indirectly benefiting community health.

Located off NM-599, the Santa Fe County Public Works Complex supports many of the county's vital services and operations, including utilities, roads, fleet, solid waste, open space maintenance, and project/facility management. Unlike traditional roof-mounted PV systems, the 45 kW system at the Public Works Complex is built as an elevated canopy that provides an outdoor gathering place for county staff and visitors. This system is anticipated to offset 17% of current electricity use at the facility, saving the County and taxpayers over $650 per month and $7,800 annually.
Taken together, these systems are expected to reduce County electricity usage by over 172,000 kWh annually and emissions by 74 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO₂e), which is comparable to taking over 16 cars off the road.

What Can I Do?

Consider Planting a Free Tree for Earth Day 2025 and/or the Featured Plant of the Month: Little Bluestem!

The County will celebrate this 2025 Earth Day in several ways, focusing on Nature Climate Solutions, one of which is partnering with Neighborhood Forest. This Minneapolis-based non-profit organization seeks to reach 100,000 youth in 2025 while increasing tree canopy and relationships with trees by inspiring students to grow and care for their trees! Their program, offered throughout the US, is a great way to support the lifelong and enriching lesson of nature stewardship, starting with planting a tree in a backyard, a front yard, or another appropriate location and caring for it with a maintenance plan. As a registered coordinator, the County's Sustainability Division can provide this opportunity to celebrate Earth Day 2025 to parents or guardians of students who sign up here to plant a free tree by March 15th. To ensure survival, there are commitments and conditions for receipt of the tree with which parents and students will be asked to comply. The species chosen for the Santa Fe area will be appropriate for our arid and drought-prone region. Students who receive a tree are encouraged to consider sharing a thank you through art for Neighborhood Forest to display on their website. The trees will be provided to parents on or close to Earth Day week.

If a tree is more than one has room or for which one is not able to commit to longer-term care, consider planting our plant star of the month: the Little Bluestem! The scientific name is Schizachyrium scoparium, and this native grass is a perfect choice for wildlife habitat creation, soil health, and erosion control. Small but mighty, this environmental wonder provides several benefits for anyone's garden, yard, meadow, or pasture, including low water maintenance! According to the USDA's plant guide, the uses are also aplenty and are rated fair for cattle and horse grazing. It is broadly adaptable to many sites and deep-rooted, providing excellent erosion control. "Little bluestem is one of the best grasses for nesting and roosting habitat. The clump type of growth habit and many fine leaves at the base provide excellent nesting sites. The seeds are consumed by small mammals and birds, including upland game birds, rosy finches, and juncos, as well as chipping, field, and tree sparrows...Meadowlarks nest in areas where little bluestem grows. The dusky skipper butterfly caterpillars overwinter in tube tents above the base of the clumps (Knopf et al., 1997)."

Preparation for planting is recommended in early spring, and it is better to plant too shallow rather than too deep.