The state will use $5 million in federal stimulus money to replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs in traffic signals at 380 intersections across the state, including in Santa Fe County, starting today.

The move is expected to save $500,000 a year in electricity costs.

The work involves replacing burned-out — as well as still-good — bulbs and throwing them away, said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Megan Arredondo.

The stimulus money is coming as a grant through the state's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and is part of the $3 billion the state is expected to receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"The replacement of incandescent lights will be a major cost-savings for the entire state, along with moving us toward a greener and cleaner New Mexico," Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Girón said in a statement. "The first deployment alone of this project will save us $500,000 per year in electricity costs; and during these tough economic times with declining state and federal revenues, we can use every cost-saving dollar to safely maintain our highways and transportation systems."

The intersections in Santa Fe County where the traffic-light bulb replacements will be made include the junctions of N.M. 599 and Airport Road, and N.M. 599 and the frontage road.

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Secretary Joanna Prukop said in a statement that the move helps communities reduce their energy footprint and save money.

But some wonder why the state waited so long to do the project, given the potential savings.

"Given the size of the highway department's budget and the fact that this investment would allegedly pay off after just 10 years, why are they sitting around waiting for $5 million from the feds to start changing out these bulbs?" said Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation.

"Now that we've got this money, why are they changing out un-burned-out bulbs rather than just focusing on those that have burned out?" he said.

Part of the work also includes installing school zone crossing flashers, traffic control flashers and advanced warning flashers around the state.

Cities including Albuquerque, Gallup and Alamogordo have already received grants under the stimulus package to change out light bulbs. The Department of Transportation has helped with 160 retrofits so far, and more than 300 intersections have already been updated in Albuquerque.

The work will be done by Bixby Electric Inc., which on its Web site lists itself as "a New Mexico corporation engaging in electrical construction and maintenance services for city, state, county and federal government agencies, as well as for commercial and industrial customers."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.