By Bobby Ortega, Chairman, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Board & Bernie Torres, Board of Trustees
We’ve been in the meetings, heard the concerns, and understand the hard questions. We want to speak as neighbors—openly and honestly. We were born and raised in Questa, with generations here farming, ranching, and building a life. We still live that life today, relying on the same water and land. That’s why this matters to us.
Let’s start with water. It’s the most important issue here. It’s how we live and farm. We share those concerns because we rely on the same system. This project does not use surface water from our acequias; it involves permitted groundwater, in amounts well below existing limits. A water study is underway to ensure the aquifer stays protected, and results will be public. While construction needs water now, hydrogen production will come later, and we’ll push for innovative sourcing. The bottom line: no one here would support harming our water.
Safety is a valid concern, and it’s being taken seriously. Independent experts conducted a comprehensive study covering operations and worst-case scenarios, finding no risk to nearby schools or residents and no impacts beyond the site. The study is publicly available on the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative website. The facility will also include layered safeguards—monitoring, automatic shutdowns, and emergency planning. This is grounded in engineering, oversight, and accountability.
People ask: why here, and why now?
This project supports carbon-free energy, brings needed economic development, strengthens reliability during outages and extreme weather, and helps with wildfire mitigation. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative has been a national leader in renewable energy, helping secure $232 million in federal funding, and this effort moves us closer to state carbon-free goals while benefiting local communities.
Questa was chosen in part because of the gap left after Chevron’s departure, which cost jobs and long-term stability. This project aims to reuse that site and bring opportunity back.
It also addresses a key energy need: providing affordable, reliable power when solar isn’t available. The hydrogen system serves as long-duration storage, supporting a more resilient renewable grid
What This Means for Everyday Life in Questa
This project brings tangible local benefits: jobs (during construction and long-term), revenue that stays in the community, and support for infrastructure and services. It can help fund needed improvements—roads, parks, water and sewer systems—while strengthening emergency services, police protection, and ambulance response. Ultimately, it gives the village more capacity to invest in what matters most.
Respecting the Land
We ranch and work this land, and we take care of it. The proposed site is already impacted—a designated Superfund site—where use is limited and reclamation is ongoing. This project repurposes that land with a relatively small footprint that follows natural contours. The mountains, monument, and trails that define Questa remain unchanged.
Final Thought
This isn’t about taking sides—it’s about asking what makes sense for Questa. We want a future with opportunity: jobs, services, and the ability for people to stay. We’ll keep listening, answering questions, and working toward what’s best for the community—because this is our home.
