Gallup Targets Multifuel I-40 Hubs to Boost Local Economy
The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation this week promoted plans to develop multifuel refueling stations along Interstate 40 in McKinley County, highlighting opportunities for hydrogen, electric vehicle charging and other clean energy infrastructure. If realized, the initiative could lower fuel costs for local motorists, create clean-energy jobs and deepen tribal economic partnerships, though firm investor commitments and construction timelines remain unconfirmed.
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The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (GGEDC) on October 28, 2025, pushed a renewed effort to position Gallup and McKinley County as a regional multifuel refueling hub along Interstate 40, emphasizing hydrogen fueling, electric vehicle (EV) charging and other alternative fuels aimed at supporting freight, tourism and local commuters. The promotion, posted on GGEDC's X account and accompanied by a detailed article on the organization’s website, frames the corridor as "front of the line" for 21st-century energy infrastructure.
This announcement builds on a sequence of planning steps stretching back more than a year. McKinley County issued an invitation for bids on a Hydrogen Fueling Station Hub on February 9, 2024, targeting commercial autonomous vehicles along I-40. GGEDC previously highlighted regional hub potential in a May 7, 2024 social media post and in a substantive article published September 30, 2025, outlining the area's suitability for multifuel facilities.
Local permitting has begun to reflect that vision: permits for a new IONNA Rechargery EV charging site at Rio West Mall in Gallup were approved October 24, 2025, enhancing direct access from I-40. Private-sector activity such as IONNA’s planned site aligns with broader public-sector coordination among McKinley County, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), which GGEDC cites as partners in attracting alternative-fuel investment.
Economic implications for McKinley County are multifaceted. Organizers say the hubs could create jobs in construction, station operation and maintenance, and broader clean-energy supply chains, while lowering fuel costs and range anxiety for truckers, commuters and tourists who rely on long stretches of highway through rural territory. The initiative also aims to foster tribal economic partnerships, particularly with the Navajo Nation, which covers large parts of the county and is a key stakeholder for local development.
The work dovetails with state and federal clean-energy programs. GGEDC materials suggest the region could compete for funding opportunities such as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and potential federal hydrogen hub awards, which would accelerate capital deployment. However, current GGEDC communications focus primarily on potential and positioning rather than on finalized deals.
Key uncertainties remain. Research for this story found no confirmed investor commitments or construction timelines tied to the October 28 outreach, and no specific Rivian announcement for September 29, 2025, was located despite related EV infrastructure movement. GGEDC is the lead promoter; McKinley County, NMED and NMDOT are engaged in planning and regulatory roles; private firms such as IONNA are moving on permitting and site development.
For residents, the immediate sign of progress is the approved IONNA Rechargery permit and the formal bid process the county initiated in early 2024. Future milestones to watch include NMDOT grant awards, NEVI allocations, and any federal hydrogen hub selections that could yield concrete investment and construction timetables. Until then, the plan signals a strategic push to convert Gallup’s I-40 corridor into an economic gateway for clean-energy freight and travel.