Rael’s coffee shop in Questa was flooded with interested public on Oct. 3 regarding the Green Hydrogen plant expected to break ground in 2026 in Questa. There was a slight divide in the room with many people seeking answers to the size, locality, water use, and overall safety of the green hydrogen plant. Kit Carson CEO, Luis Reyes and company addressed questions and followed up with key information about the new hydrogen energy project.
Mayor Ortega opened the meeting with the plethora of opportunities that a green hydrogen plant brings for the community. “Currently it costs $1 million to pave one mile of road in Questa. The green hydrogen plant is expected to bring economic development to Questa through GRT taxes and job creation,” Mayor Ortega said. “The Village wants to own the solar which is expected to bring an annual revenue source of 3 million to 3.5 million of revenue to Questa. Our current GRT is about $1 million annually and this will give us three times what we have right now. This will allow us to hire more public work employees,” Mayor Ortega stated.
CEO Luis Reyes recalled that following the Molycorp mine closure in 2014, KCEC sought ways to help offset the major loss of employment—some 300 jobs. By 2017, a group including KCEC, Chevron, and QEDF secured a grant to study local energy projects. The two-year study concluded that green hydrogen presented the best opportunity for a resilient workforce and clean energy future in Questa. KCEC was subsequently awarded a $231 million dollar grant—the largest of its kind—for this three-plant project, with hubs planned for Questa, Taos, and Peñasco. Reyes cautioned, “The money is earmarked for Kit Carson—however, this doesn’t mean we have it in hand.
When it comes to the infrastructure of the project, KCEC plans to keep the facility low-profile noting that the tallest parts, like the compressor sheds, will be about 26 feet high. This means they will be shorter than or about the same height as typical streetlights (30 to 50 feet). Nighttime lighting will be carefully controlled to follow local “dark sky” rules. As far as where water will come from for the plant, KCEC is currently working with Chevron to secure the water rights needed for the plant.
Other concerns raised by the public were noise and safety. KCEC mentions the project will follow all required local and federal rules for noise and safety and that noise from the equipment is similar to a busy street when you are close and drops quickly to a conversational volume (55 dBA) at just 100 feet away. Hydrogen storage tanks will be built to the highest standard to prevent leaks. The site will have leak detectors, fire sensors, and emergency response plans in place. A comment from the crowd mentioned that it would be a good idea to contact other communities who are using green hydrogen and see how they like it. More concerns from the public meeting were around environmental issues, specifically nitrous oxide leaks, how much water will be used, where the water will come from, and how long the aquifer will last for the plant.
Location will be on one of the two Chevron superfund sites. Existing transmission lines will be used for the plant. To put it simply the process goes as such; KCEC will take water and pipe it into an electrolyzer which separates the hydrogen from the oxygen. The co-op will release the oxygen, and the hydrogen gas will then be compressed and placed in pressurized storage tanks until needed. As far as water rights are concerned, KCEC is currently working with Chevron to secure the rights necessary to draw water from an adjudicated deep well located near the proposed site.
However, skepticism remains. A strong comment was made by a gentleman in attendance who stated, “we don’t have the water, we don’t have the money, and we don’t have the technology to do that project… you’re giving us all the benefits and none of the cost.” He also noted the absence of Chevron in the room and expressed his concern for leaks. KCEC representatives pointed out that similar green hydrogen projects are already running in other places across the country, including facilities in Colorado and California, showing the technology is already in use. A question came up as to where the alternate water source will come from if an agreement can’t be made between KCEC and Chevron. Reyes responded by saying “KCEC is looking at all water options.”
Kit Carson representatives Bobby Ortega and Bernie Torres were both present and engaged in the conversation. Ortega mentioned, “I would never be in support of something that was not in the best interest of the people of Questa. Having toured a green hydrogen plant in Georgia really confirmed that this is something that we can do in Questa.”
One of the last comments heard was an individual who expressed “I am very confident that the team we have in charge of Kit Carson is doing everything they can to enhance Taos County, not just Questa.”
KCEC encourages the community to keep sharing feedback and questions about the hydrogen initiative and thanked the community for their questions, noting that public input helps guide the co-op’s work to bring clean, dependable energy to the area. If you have additional questions please contact Luis Reyes at lreyes@kitcarson.com or (575) 741-0213 or Richard Martinez at rmartinez@kitcarson.com or (575) 758-2258.
