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

Trump’s NOAA nominee backs deep budget cuts amid rising disaster toll

Democratic senator says fossil fuel lobbying has silenced climate action in Congress

Megabill triggers uncertainty for solar and wind power developers

We’re 89 seconds from midnight — and it’s not just the nukes

Trump administration moves forward with federal layoffs after Supreme Court ruling

Texas flooding puts scaled-back FEMA under scrutiny

Texas flood disaster reveals rising human cost of climate-fueled extreme weather

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.