The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has selected Kit Carson Electric Cooperative’s proposed EV (electric vehicle) projects to receive $800,000 in grant funds appropriated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Section 9901 State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
The NMDOT award will provide funding for engineering services, design, and installation of EV DC fast charging stations across seven New Mexico locations under the NMDOT Level 3 Direct Current Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant Program. The charging station host entity and their respective locations are:
• Angel Fire Resort, Angel Fire
• Red River Convention Center, Red River
• El Rito Northern New Mexico College, El Rito
• Picuris Administration
• Building, Peñasco
• Questa Village Hall, Questa
• Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, Ojo Caliente
• Taos Plaza, Taos (2)
As part of its plan to be among the cleanest, most cost-effective electric cooperatives in America, KCEC began establishing EV charging stations throughout its service area in 2019. With the new charging sites, KCEC will have 50 total EV charging stations and expand its contribution toward New Mexico’s statewide objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the year 2030. The EV grant award is the latest in a string of 2022 milestones KCEC is meeting in partnership with its wholesale power provider, Guzman Energy, including having lower retail electricity rates than any Tri-State member cooperative, and achieving 100% daytime solar powered this year.
“With these new charging stations, we are providing our members with expanded clean energy economy services that improve quality of life and economic opportunity in our region,” said Luis A. Reyes, Jr., CEO of KCEC. “We are thrilled that the NMDOT shares our vision to ensure EV services are available to our community as well as to our valued New Mexico tourism visitors.”
The new charging stations are targeted to be operational around 2023.
Formed in 1944, Kit Carson is a member owned electric distribution cooperative in northern New Mexico and is the second largest cooperative in the state. Kit Carson is one of 16 electric cooperatives that serve rural New Mexico communities, serving nearly 30,000 members in Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. To learn more about Kit Carson, visit www.kitcarson.com.
