Placitas Community Library breaks ground on solar panel expansion project

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday at the Placitas Community Library for its solar panel expansion project.

The project is estimated at $108,000 for construction and equipment, and the additional solar panels will offset the utility costs at the library. PPC Solar has been awarded the contract. Construction is expected to be completed in early spring.

The expansion is being underwritten largely by a grant secured by state Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-50).

“Libraries are the hub of a community. They are a gathering place where residents have easy access to resources including books, films and computers along with social programming,” McQueen said. “This $100,000 grant has $83,000 dedicated to the solar panel project and also provides for a new printer and a website redesign for the library.”

The remaining costs will be paid by monies raised by the PCL Capital Campaign.

This expansion follows a building expansion completed last year at the Sandoval County-owned library building.

“This is an example of a great public-private partnership,” Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson said. “We share the mutual goal of thoughtful stewardship of natural resources and prudent practices of energy conservation. Being able to construct the project with significant local government funding demonstrates to the community the importance of our libraries and our commitment to them.”

The Placitas Community Library is a nonprofit library in an unincorporated area in rural Sandoval County. It serves a population of approximately 5,000 and is managed by a part-time director, a part-time administrator and a team of more than 85 volunteers. PCL opened in its current location in May 2009.

“We so appreciate Representative McQueen for his support of our library and the community we serve,” Lynnette Fields, board president for Placitas Community Library, said. “Staffed by both employees and a committed team of volunteers, PCL works closely with the people of Placitas to connect them locally and globally. We also commend the Sandoval County Public Works Facilities Division for its attentiveness and thoroughness in maintaining the library building. We are all so proud of PCL.”