New Mexico's green hydrogen project faces community and funding challenges

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Questa, New Mexico, aims to develop a green hydrogen plant to store renewable energy, but the project must overcome funding issues and local skepticism about water usage.

Mary Catherine O’Connor reports for High Country News.

In short:

Kit Carson Electric seeks to build a green hydrogen plant to store renewable energy at a former Superfund site in Questa.
The project faces local concerns over water usage, especially in drought-prone areas, and skepticism about new technologies.
Securing federal funding is crucial, as green hydrogen projects compete with cheaper "blue" hydrogen alternatives.

Key quote:

"I think in the end, most people are the same. We want affordable rates. We want (electricity) to be on all the time. And we want to have a say in what’s happening within our community."

— Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.

Why this matters:

Green hydrogen represents a potential path to clean energy, but its viability depends on community support and significant investment. Balancing water use with energy needs is especially critical in drought-stricken areas like New Mexico.

www.hcn.org

New Mexico's green hydrogen project faces community and funding challenges

The state that's beating dirty electricity

Extreme heat costs the poorest workers their health and wages

Seoul braces for heat wave sweeping South Korea as death toll reaches 16

Inside the secretive deal for a $10 billion data center in rural North Carolina

Georgia Power breaks ground on natural gas expansion at Plant Bowen despite air pollution concerns

Environmentalists can sue Suncor for its Commerce City pollution if they can prove it, US Appeals Court rules

Opinion: Ohio should treat the threat of radioactive fracking waste like the emergency that it is

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.