Vasquez Secures Historic Investment for Southern New Mexico, Bringing Jobs and Economic Growth to Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, January 11, 2024, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) delivered a floor speech announcing a historic investment from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program to build major new electric vehicle (EV) charging networks in Lordsburg and Vado, New Mexico.

“I am proud to announce that two communities in my district, Lordsburg and Vado, will receive a $63 million federal investment to construct two medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric truck charging stations along Interstate 10 (I-10) thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Vasquez said. “Lordsburg in Hidalgo County is home to over 2,300 people and Vado in Doña Ana County is home to nearly 3,000 people. This type of investment in these small, rural communities will spur economic development for future generations.”

“Larger metropolitan areas always benefit from federal investments, so this is why I fight to make sure that towns like Lordsburg and Vado are not being left behind by Washington,” Vasquez continued during the speech. “Along with this project comes new jobs and other investments like lodging and food services to serve the truckers utilizing the new charging center. This critical funding is also helping grow American manufacturing – including in my district in New Mexico.”

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $63.8 million for 2 TeraWatt Charging Centers for Commercial Electric Trucks along I-10 in Hidalgo and Doña Ana Counties for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). 

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 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 route will extend along I-10 from the San Pedro ports in Southern California to El Paso, Texas. 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 feature nine pull-through stalls, each equipped with a 350 kilowatt and one 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.  

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