Fonroche Lighting

Fonroche Lighting America has partnered with the City of Fort Worth to supply over 3,400 solar-powered streetlights as part of the City’s “Support the Neighborhood LED Streetlight Capital Project.” This initiative, funded by $12 million allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to improve safety, sustainability, and community infrastructure across 30 neighborhoods citywide, while saving the City more than $3 million annually in energy costs.

The project involves replacing outdated or inoperable lighting systems with Fonroche’s solar streetlights in neighborhoods with high pedestrian activity or adjacent to schools, parks, and other community hubs. Per the Fort Worth City News, neighborhoods were chosen based upon the following scoring categories:

• Existing lighting equipment type and age
• Roadway type adjacent to the lighting
• Pedestrian generator location
• Equity

Designed and engineered by Fonroche, the solar lights will dramatically reduce environmental impact and operating costs while delivering consistent lighting 365 nights per year, even during power outages. The solar lights, equipped with Fonroche’s Power 365 battery systems, are designed to perform reliably in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 158°F. They also feature an “All Night Lighting Guarantee,” which ensures uninterrupted illumination throughout the night. Lastly, the lights eliminate the need for grid connections, providing substantial cost savings, zero energy consumption, and significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to traditional streetlights.

The rollout is occurring in phases, with notable progress already achieved. Since the program’s launch in 2023, 1,123 traditional streetlights have been converted to solar-powered systems. The neighborhoods of Eastland, Glen Park, Morningside, Near East Side, Rosemont, Ryan Place, South Hills, and others benefited from these improvements in 2024.

During the summer of 2025, 1,000 additional lights are being installed in areas such as Overton South, South Hemphill Heights, Westcreek Central, Polytechnic Heights, Highland Hills, and Wedgwood East. Upcoming installations in 2025 will focus on neighborhoods like Central Meadowbrook, Oakridge Terrace, Historic Stop Six, Brentwood-Oak Hills, and Parker Essex Boaz. The full project is on track for completion by 2026, ensuring all 30 neighborhoods receive upgraded solar lighting.

These efforts address long-standing concerns about Fort Worth’s lighting infrastructure. A 2023 community survey revealed just 40% satisfaction among residents regarding street lighting, which lagged behind national averages. Fonroche’s solar streetlights are helping bridge this gap by enhancing visibility and alleviating safety concerns in high-need areas.

“We are 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,” said Lauren Prieur, Public Works Director for the City of Fort Worth. “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.”

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

During a recent podcast discussion with Innovate Fort Worth, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker highlighted the city’s commitment to bold and forward-thinking solutions, particularly in energy. “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. 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,” said Mayor Parker.

“Mayor Parker’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,” added Benaoum.

Fonroche recently opened its new U.S. headquarters at 2224 SE Loop 820 in southeast Fort Worth. The 20,088-square-foot facility employs over 50 team members across Fonroche’s engineering, sales, and production operations.

Fonroche Lighting, a global leader in solar-powered lighting solutions, has officially opened its new U.S. headquarters in Fort Worth. The 20,088-square-foot facility, located in the Campus Industrial Park at 2224 SE Loop 820, was developed by Fort Worth-based Empire Holdings, a company with over four decades of experience in industrial and commercial real estate.

The grand opening, held January 22, featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from the City of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, and executives from both Fonroche Lighting and Empire Holdings.

Founded in Agen, France, in 2011, Fonroche Lighting has grown to serve more than 50 countries across five continents. Its solar-powered streetlights are now installed in over 1,000 municipalities across 43 U.S. states. After entering the American market in 2019 with a headquarters in Boston, Fonroche relocated to Fort Worth in 2023 to centralize its operations. The company’s rapid expansion prompted the move to its newly constructed headquarters within Empire’s 12.14-acre master-planned development.

The new facility includes Class-A office space, customized features for engineering and production, and advanced industrial capabilities, such as smartphone-powered access, fiber-optic infrastructure, and sustainable landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. Warehouse areas boast column-free layouts, clear heights up to 23 feet, and high-efficiency storage solutions. Its centralized location provides easy access to highways, railways, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“Our priority is building spaces that fuel tenant success,” said Bowie Holland, President of Empire Holdings, in a statement. “Fonroche’s presence at Campus Industrial Park is a testament to what we strive to achieve in all of our developments—pairing cutting-edge technologies with exceptional design to create facilities that inspire innovation and drive growth.”

Fonroche’s solar-powered lighting solutions are designed to disrupt the traditional streetlighting industry by eliminating grid connections, offering significant cost savings, and reducing carbon emissions. These systems provide reliable, maintenance-free lighting, even in remote locations where grid infrastructure is unavailable.

“Our new U.S. headquarters represents more than just office and warehouse space -- it signals our company’s long-term commitment to the U.S. market and vision of reshaping urban infrastructure with renewable energy solutions,” said Hocine Benaoum, Head of Fonroche Lighting USA. “Our presence in Fort Worth also reinforces the city’s appeal to international companies seeking a central location for national operations. We are certain that Fort Worth’s unmatched logistical resources and supportive business climate will be the keys to our continued growth and goal to become the nation’s leader in solar-powered lighting solutions.”

Though some have called Las Vegas "The City of Light," it is not that for many area residents. Government officials, residents, and businesses were tired of being left in the dark because of wire theft. Looking for solutions, the county's task force connected with Fonroche Lighting America, a Texas-based company with over 270 municipal customers. After learning about the benefits of the SmartLight solar lighting system, the county partnered with Fonroche Lighting America to install new advanced autonomous solar lighting systems near Palm and E. Louis Street.

Why Solar Street Lights?​

Solar lighting offers local governments an elegantly simple solution to a host of lighting challenges. Not only is there no copper wiring to steal, but the systems give municipalities a new level of independence and flexibility.

Solar Lights don't require trenching and underground wiring, saving taxpayer dollars right from the start. Then, the county will save on maintenance and electricity.

Better yet, solar lighting is a sustainable option that doesn't tax the overburdened grid. In fact, they stay on during planned and emergency power outages.

Solar Lighting Technology​

The new streetlights from Fonroche contain a specially formulated battery chemistry that ensures performance and long life in the extreme temperatures of the valley and winter climates too. Fonroche uses calculations that they validate in their unique climate testing labs to determine a configuration that will guarantee all-night lighting all year long. Finally, the onboard anti-blackout controls will accommodate weather events that fall out of the area's historical norms.

Though theft is unlikely, Fonroche has even created an internal tracker to locate Power 365 assemblies if they are removed from the pole.

Community Impact​

Streetlighting impacts many aspects of a community. Lighting can provide residents with the confidence to use public transportation, promote healthy activity, and improve walkability and by extension, property values. Most importantly, it can prevent traffic accidents, trips and falls, and criminal activity.

Too often, disadvantaged neighborhoods have little or no lighting. In the past, adding lighting was complicated and costly. Now, easy-to-install solar streetlights make equitable lighting attainable.

A community where residents feel comfortable on the street is a safer, healthier and more connected community.

Upon installation in Las Vegas, one resident exclaimed, "I am dreaming right now ... Whatever government official, whoever did this, thank you."

Next Steps​

Clark County officials will closely monitor the streetlights and develop recommendations for further deployment across the county.

Hundreds of other communities are turning to Fonroche for street lighting projects that will end outages from wire theft, overburdened utilities, and weather events. Many innovations can be complex and expensive to implement - this one is simple and cost-effective.