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DIRTY HYDROGEN

While so called "green" hydrogen has a place in reducing emissions, more than 99.8% of hydrogen is produced using enormous quantities of fracked gas, including both "blue" hydrogen, in which carbon emissions from production processes are sequestered using as yet unproven technology, and "grey" hydrogen, which results in many times more carbon emissions than actual hydrogen produced. Hydrogen emissions are 20% greater than directly burning natural gas or coal for heat, and 60% greater than burning diesel oil for heat.

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In 2022 Hydrogen Hub Development legislation was introduced in the NM legislature four times, and was defeated each time, but the Governor ignored the people's will and signed a memorandum of understanding with adjoining states to seek federal dollars to develop this dangerous new industry in New Mexico, an industry that will increase pollution and increase our dependence on fossil fuels for revenue.

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Fossil Fueled Hydrogen is NOT clean. It will lead to:

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DANGEROUS EXPLOSIONS THAT HARM WORKERS AND CONSUMERS

Hydrogen is highly flammable; production and distribution will lead to cost overruns, failed projects and safety risks.

  • As the smallest molecule, 14 times lighter than air and 57 times lighter than gasoline vapor, it escapes containment easily and those same properties prevent adding odorants so it’s difficult to detect leaks. Deadly explosions are a frequent result.

  • Hydrogen is highly reactive. It embrittles pipelines and holding tanks, making it difficult and dangerous to contain, transport and use without specialized technology and materials. The presence of hydrogen in pipelines can increase the risk of flashback (flames moving upstream into the supply system) from combustion devices, including customer appliances, causing explosions and potential injury or death.

 

INCREASED METHANE EMISSIONS, DELAYED INVESTMENT IN SOLAR AND WIND, AND ACCELERATING CLIMATE DESTRUCTION

Hydrogen production from methane gas is not "clean." Fossil fueled dirty hydrogen increases climate-warming emissions.

  • Oil and gas companies produce 99.8% of the United States’ hydrogen supply from methane gas. Globally, less than 1% of hydrogen is produced through electrolysis of water, and less than 0.02% is green (i.e., powered by renewable electricity) .

  • Hydrogen Hub projects being proposed in New Mexico are primarily fueled by methane gas. When the entire life cycle of fossil-fueled hydrogen is calculated, grey hydrogen emissions are 38% greater than directly burning natural gas for energy, and blue hydrogen is not much better, resulting in 22% more emissions. Green hydrogen production from renewable energy requires 9kg of fresh water for every 1kg of hydrogen and is not feasible for production in our arid New Mexico climate.

  • Blue hydrogen depends on Carbon Capture and Storage, a half-baked technology that has resulted in stranded assets worldwide.

 

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES AND STRANDED ASSETS FUNDED BY NEW MEXICAN TAXPAYERS

Grey and Blue Hydrogen will soon be obsolete and will result in stranded assets and the loss of millions of taxpayer dollars.

  • Rethink Energy predicts that by 2026 green hydrogen will undercut the cost of grey hydrogen supplies, reaching just $1.54/kg by 2030. Fossil fueled hydrogen infrastructure built today will become obsolete within just a few years, resulting in millions of dollars in stranded assets and opportunity costs.

  • Hydrogen-based electricity generation is more costly than solar & wind energy, resources that NM possesses in abundance.

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"Clean" blue hydrogen viability depends on another false solution that doesn't work, Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is the process of trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) from pollution at fossil fuel burning facilities, compressing it into a liquid, and pumping it underground for storage or enhanced oil recovery. Carbon Capture and Storage:

  • Relies on unproven technologies that have thus far proven unable to capture and store the promised amount of carbon.

  • Increases each plants climate changing emissions because it requires significant energy to operate.

  • Offers no assurances that captured carbon will remain underground over the long term.

  • Offers false promises and a convenient excuse for fossil fuel companies to continue extracting and burning.

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