Local hydrologist encouraged by progress on Questa hydrogen project

Questa, N.M. (July 6) - Local hydrologist Michael Darr said he is encouraged by the progress of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative's proposed hydrogen project, while emphasizing that groundwater monitoring around the nearby Superfund site remains essential.

"Any new pumping well that has the potential to change groundwater flows near the Superfund site, must be monitored," said Darr. "The [Environmental Protection Agency] needs to monitor that Superfund site in perpetuity to protect our drinking water. That Superfund site is not going away."

KCEC CEO Luis Reyes has explained in public meetings that the facility is going to optimistically use 47 acre-feet of water.

"It's 47 acre-feet," said Reyes in a meeting with Taos Roundtable on June 24. "47 acre-feet is between 12 and 14 million gallons depending on how many hours a day."

Taos Roundtable hosts KCEC CEO Luis Reyes to answer questions on Questa hydrogen.

https://www.youtube.com/live/UdICbaCSH2A?is=Yo0Zf5QgQMmYdwLj

Darr initially estimated the facility was more likely to use around 100 acre-feet of water a year.

When asked about the difference between the estimates, Reyes responded, “We are currently evaluating a handful of electrolyzers and their actual water requirements and the results are still in the 47-60 acre-feet per year, which is consistent and lower than the 47-100 acre-feet per year we have published.”

Reyes has also been in communication with Darr.

According to Reyes and Darr, Darr's earlier estimates were based on general electrolysis water-use assumptions before accounting for the cooling system. KCEC is now evaluating specific electrolyzer models, and those manufacturers' specifications indicate 47-60 acre-feet per year.

“[KCEC] is getting new information all the time - design is an iterative process, meaning that estimates are fine tuned as the project moves forward,” said Darr. “The water use estimates will change again once we know the electrolyzer specifications and the water quality treatment needs.”

“The main thing is they will use a closed-loop, dry cooling method, instead of evaporative, wet cooling. That will reduce water use quite a bit,” said Darr. “The final water use figure will depend on details of the equipment, design, and water quality tests.”

Critics of the project throughout northern Taos County have made their concerns known at Village of Questa Council meetings, their primary concern being water usage.

Darr provided some needed perspective regarding water use in northern Taos County.

"If you're concerned about water use, the first thing you should look at is the big hay and alfalfa farms using center-pivot irrigation," said Darr. "Just a quarter section of one of those farms uses about 300 acre-feet a year. Collectively, these fields in the Sunshine Valley are using thousands of acre-feet a year."

Darr is an independent hydrologist who has contracted with a multitude of organizations over the past 30 years, including the states of New Mexico and Arizona. Darr’s expertise is in hydrology, geology, and environmental safeguards for development and infrastructure and his firm is called MJDarrconsult Inc.

"I don't see how 100 acre-feet a year of water usage will suck up all the water in the San Luis Valley when the Village of Questa and alfalfa farmers are already using more than that," said Darr.

The Village of Questa uses approximately 220 acre-feet of water a year, according to Darr.

Darr's main concerns now center around the hydrogen facility's immediate impact on neighboring wells, the Red River and the springs that feed it, and its proximity to the Superfund site and Chevron's old molybdenum mine tailings pile.

"What they are now studying is the water flow from Costilla to the Rio Grande, the effects on wells within 2 to 3 miles of the facility, and the effects on rivers and streams flowing around the facility," said Darr. “I’m hopeful that these questions will be answered in the ongoing water study.”

Darr also explained that he has no issue with the project's solar panels as long as they will not be directly above the mine tailings where they could cause heavy metal contamination in the form of dust. Darr was assured by KCEC that the solar panels will not be directly above the tailings, but instead will be to the north of the pile.

"It's a pioneering thing," said Darr. "We have to get off fossil fuels and I hope New Mexico becomes a leader in renewable energy."

While Darr remains encouraged by the project's direction, he said continued groundwater monitoring and completion of the ongoing water study will ultimately determine whether the facility can move forward without compromising northern Taos County's water resources.