Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico, fully powered by solar energy on sunny days, is progressing to generate green hydrogen with a $231 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project aims to generate 104 megawatts of energy, sufficient to power about 25,000 homes. This development is crucial for the utility, which currently operates 42 megawatts of distributed solar resources and 16 megawatts of battery storage systems. The utility's Board Chair, Bobby Ortega, considers this award as one of the most significant milestones in their history. The green hydrogen project will use solar generation to power the hydrogen facilities situated alongside closed mine wastewater treatment plants, with a plan to repurpose the wastewater. Additionally, the initiative involves long-duration energy storage with up to 16 hours of capacity to ensure a reliable power supply, especially during emergencies such as wildfires or extreme natural disasters. The financial support for this project comes from the Empowering Rural America program through USDA's Rural Utilities Service, signifying a significant leap towards sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure in the region.