New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at Arcosa Wind Towers Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Belen, N.M. Grisham traveled to Australia this week to attend a hydrogen summit and meet with related businesses that may have an interest in expanding to New Mexico. At least one hydrogen business is forging plans to expand to New Mexico. New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at Arcosa Wind Towers, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Belen, N.M.
Andrew Horvath, global group chairman at Star Scientific, said the new facilities in Albuquerque would scale up research and development of its hydrogen technology for generating heat. Star Scientific is currently sponsoring two hydrogen-energy pilot projects in Australia with a food-production company and a plastics-packaging business. They aim to replace heat systems derived from natural gas, reducing emissions of climate-warming pollution in the process.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, has enthusiastically embraced support for hydrogen-energy ventures to create local jobs. But there’s been concern and criticism from environmentalists who say hydrogen presents its own pollution and climate risks depending on production methods and precautions against leaks.for a $7 billion program to kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel, a key component of the administration’s agenda to slow climate change.