Georgia has the Peach Drop, lowering a giant 800-pound peach to celebrate the countdown to the new year. Then there’s the famous crystal ball drop from Times Square in New York City – an event that more than one billion watch worldwide. This year, enter the first Las Cruces Chile Drop for New Mexicans to ring in the new year in a befitting style. A 15-foot illuminated chile powered by Positive Energy Solar will be dropped from a crane in the heart of downtown Las Cruces on December 31.
“The first ever Las Cruces Chile Drop is a great opportunity to utilize the downtown corridor, but mostly to celebrate the harvest of our chile, the harvest of the sun thanks to Positive Energy Solar and a driver of tourism from places like the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument,” said Russ Smith, owner of the Happy Dog food truck and member of Las Cruces’ Project Main Street.
The Chile Drop kicks off with a block party beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31. A Kids Zone with kid-friendly entertainment will run through 9:00 p.m. Running concurrent to the Kids Zone, the Doña Ana Arts Council sponsors an intimate evening in the company of Jerome Anthony Gourdine, better known as Little Anthony, at the Rio Grande Theatre. A beer and wine garden will feature New Mexico’s Bosque Brewing, High Desert Brewing and Amaro Winery among other purveyors. After the chile drops and the music stops, a free shuttle will be available at the end of the night.
“We’ve really stepped up our community involvement this year in Las Cruces and around the state. Powering the Chile with solar is an idea the event organizers had at the beginning, and we’re pleased to fill that role and sponsor this community event to celebrate with our friends and neighbors and to highlight what we can accomplish together in 2015,” said Lucas Herndon, community organizer for Positive Energy Solar.
The solar company has been adding jobs in the Las Cruces area steadily, fueled by New Mexicans’ increasing adoption of solar energy for homes, businesses and schools. Positive Energy Solar is New Mexico’s largest Certified Benefits Corporations (B Corp) and one of the state’s largest solar companies with more than 1,000 solar installations. Over the past year, the company has added 30 new jobs.
About Positive Energy Solar
An employee-owned company, Positive Energy Solar is the largest certified Benefits Corporation (B Corp) in New Mexico, a distinction earned for providing good wages, benefits, and growth opportunities for team members; contributing to schools and non profits; delivering 100 percent satisfaction to its customers; and selecting products for long term performance and low environmental impact. Positive Energy Solar is New Mexico’s leading residential and commercial solar installer.
About Las Cruces Chile Drop
The first annual Chile Drop is organized by Las Cruces’ Project Mainstreet, a volunteer-led community organization that is enhancing the downtown corridor of Las Cruces. The 15-foot solar-powered chile will be dropped from a crane on Main Street, anchoring the New Year’s Eve festivities that include music, beer and wine, kids activities and live performances.