Brenda is a small town, located a few miles north of I-10, in La Paz County. Like nearby Quartzsite, it caters to RV visitors who are looking for sunshine and warmth during the winter months.
Heliogen and Bloom Energy are planning to build a green hydrogen-generating facility on the site, according to a company press release from February 2022. A year after that announcement, many people in Brenda told ABC15 they never heard anything about the company or green hydrogen. Some residents of Brenda disagree. They live in a desert during a drought and were asked where did the company think the water would come from.
According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the site is located on the Ranegras Plain. The underground basin in this area is outside Arizona's Active Management Areas, which means anyone with a well has no restrictions on how much water they can use. But unrestricted access doesn't mean unlimited water, and area residents worry they'll run dry.
Irwin has been outspoken on the need for water management plans in rural Arizona. She also has questions about green hydrogen since several companies are proposing to build plants in La Paz County.
Water = corruption payouts $$$