WASHINGTON (Sept. 23, 2021) – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) welcomed the announcement that the Albuquerque International Sunport is receiving $7.1 million in federal investment through the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

The Sunport will use this federal investment to purchase three new zero-emission vehicles, install overhead charging infrastructure, reconstruct a taxiway, and build low-emission airport pre-conditioned air units and airport ground power units that will reduce carbon emissions at the airport. 

“This is a great example of how we can power our economic recovery by also meeting our responsibility on climate,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to welcome this major investment in the Sunport that will support cleaner air over Albuquerque, reduce carbon pollution, and help a critical economic driver for our state build back better from the pandemic.” 

“As the climate crisis continues to threaten our way of life, we must leverage every innovative solution and partnership that will make a difference,” said Luján. “This funding will provide much-needed support to the Sunport by installing responsible infrastructure to reduce harmful emissions, clean our air, and create more jobs in the process.” 

“Albuquerque’s Sunport is the definition of critical infrastructure and I’m proud that the American Rescue Plan continues to provide important investments in our economy and put New Mexicans back to work,” said Stansbury. “This funding will help support more sustainable infrastructure curbing emissions, and help New Mexico recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. A win, win, win.” 

The grants are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Zero Emissions Vehicle/Infrastructure Program, the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program, the Airport Improvement Program, and COVID relief funds to help airports recover from economic impacts of the pandemic. 

Thanks to funding provided by the American Rescue Plan, the pandemic and economic recovery law that Democrats in Congress and President Biden passed in March, these Department of Transportation grants are fully funded without Albuquerque taxpayers needing to provide any local matching funds. 

More information on the Federal Aviation Administration’s announcement today can be found here.