Five months ago, France-based Fonroche Lighting cut the ribbon on its new U.S. headquarters in Fort Worth. Now it’s lighting things up all across town—by partnering with the city of Fort Worth to supply over 3,400 solar-powered streetlights in 30 different neighborhoods.

The project is part of Fort Worth’s Support the Neighborhood LED Streetlight capital project. Funded by $12 million allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act, the initiative “aims to improve safety, sustainability, and community infrastructure across 30 neighborhoods citywide, while saving the city more than $3 million annually in energy cost,” the city said.

As you can see in the above photo, installation is already underway. Outdated or inoperable lighting systems are being replaced with Fonroche’s solar streetlights in pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods and above streets near schools, parks, and other community hubs.

A Fonroche Lighting solar-powered streetlight installed in Fort Worth. [Photo: Fonroche]

Per the city, neighborhoods were selected based on four criteria: existing lighting equipment type and age; roadway type adjacent to the lighting; pedestrian generator location; and equity considerations.

“We’re transforming Fort Worth with Fonroche’s solar lighting, creating safer, more accessible streets while reducing maintenance costs and eliminating risks from wire theft and outages,” Fort Worth Public Works Director Lauren Prieur said in a statement. “Residents are embracing this off-grid solution, which ensures uninterrupted lighting and marks a major step toward sustainability and a brighter future for our communities.”

‘All night lighting guarantee’

A Fonroche Lighting solar-powered streetlight illuminates a railroad crossing in Fort Worth. [Photo: Fonroche]

Fonroche says the lights it has designed and engineered “will dramatically reduce environmental impact and operating costs while delivering consistent lighting 365 nights per year, even during power outages.” 

The solar lights are equipped with Fonroche’s Power 365 battery systems, and are “designed to perform reliably” even in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 158°F. Their “all night lighting guarantee” ensures uninterrupted illumination throughout the night, the company said.

The lights also eliminate the need for grid connections, “providing substantial cost savings, zero energy consumption, and significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to traditional streetlights,” Fonroche added.

A Fonroche Lighting solar-powered streetlight installed in Fort Worth. [Photo: Fonroche]

First lights went up in 2023

The solar streetlight rollout is happening in phases. The program was actually launched in 2023, and since then, 1,123 traditional streetlights have been converted to solar-powered systems. In 2024, conversions were implemented in the Fort Worth neighborhoods of Eastland, Glen Park, Morningside, Near East Side, Rosemont, Ryan Place, South Hills, and others.

This summer, 1,000 additional lights are slated to be installed in areas including Overton South, South Hemphill Heights, Westcreek Central, Polytechnic Heights, Highland Hills, and Wedgwood East.

Additional installations in 2025 will focus on neighborhoods including Central Meadowbrook, Oakridge Terrace, Historic Stop Six, Brentwood-Oak Hills, and Parker Essex Boaz.

Fonroche said the full project is on track to be finished by 2026, “ensuring all 30 neighborhoods receive upgraded solar lighting.”

Addressing resident concerns

The project is to a great extent addressing Fort Worth residents’ concerns, which were illuminated by a 2023 community survey. The study revealed only 40% satisfaction among residents regarding street lighting, a figure lagging behind U.S. averages. Fonroche said its solar streetlights are helping bridge this gap “by enhancing visibility and alleviating safety concerns in high-need areas.”

Hocine Benaoum, Head of Fonroche Lighting America, called Fort Worth’s commitment to continuous improvement and modernization “truly inspiring.”

“The city’s vision for innovation and its dedication to enhancing infrastructure demonstrate a forward-thinking approach that sets a benchmark for others,” Benaoum added in a statement. “Fonroche is honored to collaborate with Fort Worth, a city that places high value on creating equitable and vibrant communities. By improving lighting in neighborhoods, we’re helping to support a safer, more accessible, and unified Fort Worth, and we are proud to be part of this incredible transformation.”

The Panther City’s public-private partnerships

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker recently spoke about the city’s public-private partnerships on Innovate Fort Worth, a podcast produced by HSC Next, the innovation wing of the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth. 

“Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country, and to support that growth, we must innovate by championing smart solutions that honor our community’s history while pushing us forward,” she said in the podcast. “From forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders to adopting evolving energy technologies, our focus is on setting Fort Worth apart as a leader in innovation and opportunity.” 

Fonroche’s Benaoum said the mayor’s leadership in championing renewable, future-focused infrastructure “sets Fort Worth apart as a national leader. By adopting resilient, solar-powered lighting systems, the city not only achieves cost savings and environmental benefits but also creates a safer, more sustainable urban environment as a model for others to follow.”

Fonroche’s new U.S. headquarters is located at 2224 SE Loop 820 in southeast Fort Worth. The 20,088-square-foot facility employs over 50 people across Fonroche’s engineering, sales, and production operations, the company said.

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