The City of Socorro, Socorro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SEC), and Nuvve New Mexico, LLC (NNM) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work jointly on transportation electrification, local grid improvements, and community resilience across the region.

The MOU — signed by Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker, SEC CEO Manuel Gonzales, and Nuvve New Mexico CEO Ted Smith — creates a framework for planning and implementing projects that support residents, schools, and public agencies. Bhasker said the partnership will help bring new technology and investment “in a way that lowers costs and improves reliability.” 

Gonzales added that SEC aims to identify projects that benefit members and essential services. Smith said the agreement offers a model for municipalities and cooperatives to collaborate on “locally beneficial electrification projects.”

School Bus Electrification and Community Impact

A key priority of the agreement is helping Socorro Consolidated Schools and nearby districts pursue state funding for electric school buses, charging equipment, and supporting infrastructure. The parties will assess transportation needs, potential charging locations, and opportunities to reduce operating costs through managed charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services.

The deal will also allow Nuvve to assist with electrifying the city’s municipal fleet, modernizing the grid, developing smart rate strategies and demand charge mitigation, expanding charging infrastructure, and offering V2G systems.

The MOU establishes a joint working group to coordinate projects, pursue funding opportunities, and ensure community needs guide implementation. It reflects New Mexico’s broader effort to adopt technologies such as V2G and battery service models to support cleaner, more resilient transportation and energy systems.