New Mexico

New Mexico receives nearly $68 million in federal funding for EV charging – NM Political Report

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

New Mexico receives nearly million in federal funding for EV charging – NM Political Report

New Mexico will receive nearly $68 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure from the federal government from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law . This money comes through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program. The $68 million is part of a $623 million nationwide investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and comes as President Joe Biden’s […]

The $68 million is part of a $623 million nationwide investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and comes as President Joe Biden’s administration works toward a goal of making at least 500,000 electric vehicle chargers publicly available by 2030.

The $623 million investment will fund 47 projects in 22 states as well as Puerto Rico and will result in the creation of about 7,500 charging ports for electric vehicles.

“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,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release announcing the funding. “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.”

The largest portion—$63.8 million—will go to building two TeraWatt charging stations for commercial electric trucks along Interstate 10 in Hidalgo and Doña Ana counties. TeraWatt Infrastructure is a company based in California that is working to build the nation’s first network of high-powered charging centers for commercial electric trucks. This corridor will be along I-10 stretching from southern California to the border region in El Paso, Texas.

The two stations in New Mexico will each feature nine pull-through stalls. Each of those will be equipped with both a 350 kilowatt and 1 megawatt direct current fast charger. These sites will be located near Lordsburg and Vado.

“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,” U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a New Mexico Democrat, said in a press release. “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.”

Additionally, Santa Fe County will receive $3.3 million in funding to build a network of 33 fast chargers and level 2 charging stations at 13 sites, including areas in underserved communities near county transportation hubs as well as in places where there is multi-family affordable housing.

Finally, the Town of Taos received $500,000 to install six publicly available fast EV chargers in parking lots at three community buildings, including the Taos Visitor Center.

“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,” U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, the founder and co-chair of the Electrification Caucus and a Democrat representing New Mexico, said in a press release. “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.”

In other EV charging news, earlier this week the Public Service Company of New Mexico and Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara announced an agreement that will increase availability of charging stations. Under that agreement, the utility will install charging stations on the eighth floor of the PNM parking structure in downtown Albuquerque near Alvarado Square.

“We want to cut down our carbon footprint in our community with an eventual changeover to a fully electric fleet,” Lara said in a statement. “This is the next step in this effort.”

Source link

New Mexico

Federal court orders New Mexico prison officials to allow magazine’s delivery

Published

8 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Federal court orders New Mexico prison officials to allow magazine’s delivery

State

Zip Code

Country

Source link

New Mexico

Tanya Tucker to perform at New Mexico State Fair

Published

20 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Tanya Tucker to perform at New Mexico State Fair

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker will perform at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, officials announced Tuesday.

Tucker will take to the stage Friday, Sept. 18, after the Chevron PRCA rodeo. The Grammy Award-winning icon has racked up 10 No. 1 country hits since her first hit, “Delta Dawn,” at age 13.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the legendary Tanya Tucker to the New Mexico State Fair,” said Dan Mourning, general manager of the New Mexico State Fair. “Tanya is one of the greatest icons in country music history and is the perfect fit for the Fair.”

Tucker has 23 Top-40 albums and 56 Top 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has won two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, three CMT Awards and two Grammys for Best Country Album and Best Country Song.

Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.

Here is the full 2026 New Mexico State Fair rodeo-concert lineup:

Friday, Sept. 11

Turnpike Troubadours with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls

Saturday, Sept. 12

Ian Munsick with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls

Wednesday, Sept. 16

Chevron PRCA Standalone Rodeo

Thursday, Sept. 17

Everclear with Chevron PRCA Rodeo

Friday, Sept. 18

Tanya Tucker with Chevron PRCA Rodeo

Saturday, Sept. 19

The Warning with Chevron PRCA Rodeo

Sunday, Sept. 20

Chevron PRCA Rodeo – Matinee

Source link

New Mexico

New Mexico prosecutors launch search of Jeffrey Epstein’s secluded former Zorro Ranch

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico prosecutors launch search of Jeffrey Epstein’s secluded former Zorro Ranch

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State investigators began searching a secluded ranch in New Mexico on Monday where financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once entertained guests amid allegations that the property may have been used for sexual abuse and sex trafficking of young women.

The office of state Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that the search was being done with the cooperation of the current ranch owners.

Torrez last month reopened an investigation of the ranch. New Mexico’s initial case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, and state prosecutors say now that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”

Epstein purchased the sprawling Zorro Ranch in Stanley, New Mexico, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Santa Fe, in 1993 from former Democratic Gov. Bruce King and built a hilltop mansion with a private runway.

The property was sold by Epstein’s estate in 2023 — with proceeds going toward creditors — to the family of Don Huffines, a candidate in Texas for state comptroller who won the Republican primary last week.

“The New Mexico Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the current property owners,” the agency said in a statement. Prosecutors “will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead.”

Additionally, New Mexico state legislators have established a new commission to look into past activities at the ranch.

Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls.

Epstein never faced charges in New Mexico, but the state attorney general’s office in 2019 confirmed that it had interviewed possible victims who visited Epstein’s ranch.

Source link