Last month, we announced that $95.6 million had been designated to Kit Carson Electric Cooperative to fund the Green Hydrogen Project. Following our report, we heard mixed messages from community members about the funding news, prompting us to reach out to Kit Carson CEO Luis Reyes with some of the questions and concerns from the community.
As an electrical engineer, Reyes is not uncomfortable discussing the reasoning for many decisions he’s had to make over the past 32 years as CEO of the second largest electric cooperative in the state. “Our goal has always been to provide electricity and service to households in our service area,” Reyes says. “Reaching that goal and ensuring we have the buy-in of our stakeholders and the community, that’s a different story.”
Reyes grew up in Taos and attended public school. His first introduction to the regional community of Taos County was when he participated in the first 100-mile pilgrimage in the 1970s. “I met people from various parishes in the area and it opened my eyes to how similar we are.” He went on to attend the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell and subsequently went on to attend New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. “I was a first-generation college graduate for my family and my parents were very proud of that.
When Reyes was a senior in college in 1984, he recalls being home for a Christmas break when his mom asked him to go with her to pay bills. “Back then, you had to pay your bills in person because nothing was automated.” He recalls going to Kit Carson Cooperative with his mom and the happenstance led to a conversation with the manager, Joe Rodriguez. “He asked if I was interested in being his engineer, specializing in power distribution, but I didn’t think he was serious.” It wasn’t until he heard directly from his professors that the Board of Trustees had reached out to inquire about Reyes that he knew it was serious!
Graduating in May, the Cooperative wasted no time bringing Reyes on-board. His first day with the organization was May 21, 1984. Reyes spent 8-½ years as the engineer of the department, where he worked on many infrastructure projects and improvements for the Cooperative. In January of 1993, he was appointed business manager. Fast forward to today, he has been the sitting CEO of the company for 32 years.
One of the biggest drivers through his career has been his interest in investing and improving the local community. “Providing electricity to homes and businesses, that’s only the basics of what we do. Investing in the community and the people, changing things, improving things, helping things be better, that’s what makes us unique and a leader for our community.”
While contributing to the community remains his biggest priority as CEO, he acknowledges it has not been easy to do so without navigating politics involved with working in northern Taos County. “A lot of times, there are people who may not like you or may not like your perspective, so they try to create barriers for you. It’s important to remember we are one community and when we bring others down, we’re in essence bringing ourselves down. When one of our people rises and succeeds, we all do, so I feel its so important to help our people succeed, regardless of who they are and who they’re related to.”
When asked why he feels so passionate about the Green Hydrogen Project, Reyes is quick to point at the investments this will be making in the community. “We’re living in a different time and climate change will continue to cause catastrophic weather patterns, more frequently. Questa gets their power from Taos and having a green hydrogen hub in Questa would ensure the homes could have power through large snowstorms and windstorms,” he says. “It’s simply adapting our infrastructure to ensure it’s able to sustain where we’re at right now in our world.”
In addition to the major improvements in the infrastructure of the electrical grid, the project is going to bring good paying jobs to the area. “The Questa Mine’s closure was a big shock to everyone. It left people without jobs or needing to relocate to find the same type of jobs. This project is going to help people have good jobs in their community while living and thriving in Questa.”
Reyes has a natural dedication to ensuring residents are prioritized in hiring opportunities. “So often, I see outside talent brought in to operate in big positions or opportunities in our community. It is lost on me as to why we don’t proactively see the opportunity and extend it to our own people,” Reyes says. “This project is going to provide opportunities for our own to stay home or come home and work and live in their home community. Our people are smart and they’re capable.”
When asked what he would tell people who disagree with the Green Hydrogen Project, he says “I enjoy hearing from people who don’t agree with me. It helps me gain an understanding of where they’re coming from in their disagreements and allows me to explain my perspective with consideration to their specific concerns.”
The Green Hydrogen Project funding is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024. Multiple assessments need to be conducted prior to the official launch of the project. Positions will start to be posted gradually through 2025 and 2026. As for what people might expect to see, Reyes says the stakeholders are cognizant of the impact this will have on the area.
“The environmental impact survey will help us ensure this project isn’t going to impact the natural environment and wildlife in the area. We are using existing structures and repurposing them for this project.” Additionally, the buildings will likely be painted earth tones to ensure they don’t clash with the natural environment. “I am from here and my wife is from Amalia. We love our local community and the beauty that surrounds us. The last thing we’d want to do is ruin the beautiful place we call home.”
