N.M. Delegation Welcomes Nearly $68 Million Investment from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Build EV Charging Network
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming nearly $68 million in competitive federal grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to build major new electric vehicle (EV) charging networks throughout New Mexico.
“I am thrilled that New Mexico is receiving such a substantial share of the investment from the first round of competitive EV charging grants in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Heinrich, the founder and co-chair of the Electrification Caucus. “From passenger sedans to school buses and delivery trucks, today’s EVs are market ready right now. If we want to meet our ambitious climate goals and deploy these clean and zero-emission vehicles at scale, we need to build much more EV charging infrastructure in our communities and along our major highways. This grant is a crucial step to get that done.”
“Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I’m proud to welcome this investment from the Department of Transportation to build more electric vehicle charging stations across our state. These charging stations will benefit New Mexicans and travelers alike while reducing harmful emissions,” said Luján. “Critically, I'm glad this funding will also further innovation by building new, robust charging hubs in New Mexico as part of our country’s first network of high-powered charging centers across I-10.”
“This $63 million investment to Lordsburg and Vado is the largest award in the United States and will go a long way in not just supporting cleaner trucks, but boosting economic development in our rural communities,” said Vasquez. “These two medium- and heavy-duty commercial truck charging stations along Interstate-10, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are a big deal. The construction of these new charging centers will provide critical resting places along the I-10 corridor, which facilitates the transportation of millions of dollars in goods from the ports of Los Angeles through New Mexico and to the rest of the country.”
“As more electric vehicles hit the market, we must provide the infrastructure for green powered cars to be successful. I knew the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would provide this kind of support, that’s why I voted for it,” said Leger Fernández. “I’m excited to welcome $3.8 million for electric vehicle (EV) charging projects in my district thanks to the Infrastructure Law. It’s important that every New Mexican has access to charging stations, and this funding will help build public charging sites across Santa Fe and Taos.”
“I am thrilled that New Mexico will be awarded nearly $70 million in grant money for EV charging stations,” said Stansbury. “As we do our best to combat the climate crisis, this is a huge step in moving towards a clean energy future, and will create many new job opportunities for our communities! This progress wouldn’t be possible without the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I can’t wait to see the impact this grant money will have for generations to come!”
“We are honored to be selected in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to deliver these sites which will serve as key links in TeraWatt’s I-10 electric corridor project,” said Neha Palmer, TeraWatt Infrastructure CEO and Co-Founder. “The work that made this grant possible started long before the CFI funding opportunity opened last year, and we are very grateful for the leadership of Senator Heinrich and the New Mexico delegation to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which is making zero-emission transportation projects like this a reality.”
“America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will help ensure that EV chargers are accessible, reliable, and convenient for American drivers, while creating jobs in charger manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for American workers.”
“Every community across the nation deserves access to convenient and reliable clean transportation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is bringing an accessible, made-in-America charging network into thousands of communities while cutting the carbon pollution that is driving the climate crisis.”
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded the following three competitive grants to New Mexico:
New Mexico Department of Transportation - $63.8 million for 2 TeraWatt Charging Centers for Commercial Electric Trucks along I-10 in Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) will contract with a private partner, TeraWatt Infrastructure, to design, construct, own, and manage two electric vehicle charging centers for medium-and heavy-duty (MDHD) commercial vehicles conducting routes along Interstate 10 (I-10), located in unincorporated Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties, near Lordsburg and Vado, N.M.
TeraWatt is building the I-10 Electric Corridor, which will be the nation’s first network of high-powered charging centers for heavy-duty electric trucks. The entire route will extend along the I-10 highway from the San Pedro ports in Southern California to the El Paso, Texas border region. TeraWatt has purchased or is under contract to purchase each planned “link” location along this segment of I-10.
The two facilities in New Mexico, called TeraWatt Charging Centers, will both feature nine pull-through stalls, each equipped with a 350 kilowatt and 1 megawatt direct current fast charger (DCFC) to support on-route charging for electric trucks. TeraWatt’s sites near Lordsburg and Vado will be important links along the initial stretch of the I-10 Electric Corridor.
Santa Fe County - $3.3 million for Community EV Charging Project
The County of Santa Fe will receive $3.3 million to build an EV charging network of 33 fast chargers and Level 2 charging stations at 13 sites that include underserved communities, multi-family affordable housing and county transportation hubs.
Town of Taos - $500,000 for 6 Publicly Available EV Chargers
The Town of Taos will receive $500,000 to install the first six publicly available fast EV chargers in the parking lots of three community buildings open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of the locations will be the Taos Visitor Center, which serves Taos Pueblo, designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark.
