2026 Event Schedule

Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) is pioneering a model for long-duration energy storage (LDES) and sustainable community development through the Questa Green Hydrogen Project—a multi-site initiative spanning Questa, Picuris Pueblo, and the Town of Taos Water Treatment Facility in Northern New Mexico. This innovative project transforms a legacy mining site into a clean hydrogen production hub, using solar energy and reclaimed mine water to generate green hydrogen through electrolysis.

Designed to store energy for use during multi-day outages and non-solar hours, this project addresses a critical gap in rural and tribal grid resilience. By integrating hydrogen storage with new and existing solar PV assets, KCEC is creating dispatchable, carbon-free power to support essential services during wildfires, extreme weather, and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

But the story extends beyond resilience. In an area historically impacted by the closure of extractive industries, this project is also a blueprint for economic revitalization and sustainable development. It creates skilled jobs, supports workforce transition, and fosters energy sovereignty in underserved communities—positioning clean hydrogen as both a technological and economic solution.

In this session, KCEC and project partners will share:

How green hydrogen enables LDES and strengthens rural energy infrastructure
Strategies for integrating hydrogen systems in economically challenged areas
Lessons in site reuse, permitting, water treatment, and solar-hydrogen coordination
Community engagement approaches for tribal and low-to-moderate income (LMI) regions
Funding and partnership models that make these projects viable

Attendees will gain actionable insights into how clean hydrogen can deliver resilience, reliability, and revitalization—and how similar strategies can be deployed across other regions transitioning from traditional industries.