Heinrich, Luján, Vasquez Welcome Over $3.5 Million to Help Nonprofits and Faith-Based Organizations with Energy Efficiency Upgrades

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed the U.S. Department of Energy's announcement that it has awarded $3,536,789 from the Infrastructure Law's Renew America's Nonprofits Program to the Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation in Las Cruces, N.M.

Last fall, Heinrich, Luján, and Vasquez announced that Tierra del Sol was one of only nine nonprofits selected in the nation to participate in the Renew America's Nonprofits Program - a first-of-its-kind investment established through the Infrastructure Law to help nonprofits make energy efficiency improvements that will create cleaner, healthier community spaces, while generating cost savings so critical funds can be redirected toward mission-driven work.

Now that these new federal resources have been announced, Tierra del Sol plans to partner with the New Mexico State University/Doña Ana Community College Environmental and Energy Technologies Program and the New Mexico Building Trades Council to assist nonprofit and faith-based organizations in New Mexico, Arizona,and Texas install energy efficiency upgrades to their facilities, including replacing roof insulation, windows, water heaters, and HVAC systems. Tierra del Sol will also provide energy efficiency upgrades to senior housing complexes across New Mexico, providing comfort and lower energy costs to residents.

"New Mexico's nonprofit organizations do important work providing for our communities and our neighbors in need," said Heinrich. "Reducing their operating costs with energy efficiency upgrades will allow them to devote more resources toward their core missions. I'm proud to see Tierra del Sol, NMSU, DACC, and the New Mexico Building Trades Council working together to support the success of nonprofit organizations throughout our state. This is just the latest way that the Infrastructure Law is helping us build a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy future for all New Mexicans."

"I am proud to welcome more than $3.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation and New Mexico nonprofits for energy improvements through 2028," said Luján. "This funding will help make homes more energy-efficient and support a greener future for our community. It represents a major investment in New Mexico's sustainability and long-term economic health."

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for New Mexicans. This funding empowers organizations like Tierra del Sol to partner with local institutions and provide critical energy efficiency upgrades to nonprofit and faith-based facilities across New Mexico," said Vasquez. "I'm proud to secure these investments to lower utility bills but also ensure our communities have the resources they need to thrive."

Background:

Based in Las Cruces, N.M., the Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation's mission is to improve the quality of life of persons in its service area by empowering them economically, politically, and socially through homeownership, employment training, and through access to financial resources.This award is just the latest federal investment thatHeinrich, Luján, and Vasquez have secured to support Tierra del Sol's importantwork.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich also secured a $1,680,000 Congressionally Directed Spending grant in the Fiscal Year 2023 Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill to help Tierra del Sol plan, engineer, and build 14 new affordable homes in Columbus, N.M.

In the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in July, Heinrich and Luján successfully included $1,025,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to help Tierra del Sol create more affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in New Mexico.

In the nearly three years since Democrats in the New Mexico Congressional Delegation voted to pass it into law, the landmark Infrastructure Law has delivered billions of dollars in historic infrastructure investments to New Mexico. You can click here to see a map of funding and announced projects in New Mexico through the Infrastructure Law. You can also find a fact sheet of the investments New Mexico has received through the Infrastructure Law.

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