Kit Carson Electric Cooperative receives significant funding for green hydrogen initiatives to boost renewable energy in New Mexico
Taos: The Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is making big moves in renewable energy. They just got a whopping $231 million from the USDA to kick off green hydrogen projects.
This funding will help them generate 104 megawatts of energy, enough to power around 25,000 homes. That’s a big deal for a co-op that serves about 30,000 households.
KCEC’s Board Chair, Bobby Ortega, called this award a major milestone. He mentioned it’s the first green hydrogen project of its kind for an electric cooperative in the country.
The plan is to use solar energy to power these hydrogen facilities, which will be set up near closed mine wastewater treatment plants. They’ll even repurpose wastewater for the project.
Plus, they’re looking at long-duration energy storage, which could last up to 16 hours. This is all part of the USDA’s Empowering Rural America program.
Co-op CEO Luis Reyes Jr. said this funding will be a game-changer. It’ll help ensure a reliable power supply during tough times, like wildfires or other emergencies.
