Big New Mexico Coal-Fired Plant May See New Life as Hydrogen Facility
5/28/2021
Two energy companies are laying out plans for the $250 million transformation of the more than 40 year-old Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, New Mexico.
In early 2020 the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced a schedule for the closing of the station, noting that the decision was “driven by the economics of operating the power plant in a competitive power market.”
Tri-State is based in Westminster, Colorado, and is a not-for-profit supply cooperative providing power in four states.
Last month Newpoint Gas LLC, of Columbus, Texas, in a partnership with the Plymouth, Connecticut-based Brooks Energy Company, announced plans to purchase the Escalante station from Tri-State.
As proposed, what is being called the Escalante Hydrogen Project will see the facility transformed from a coal-fired generation plant to one producing hydrogen. If successful, it will be the first effort of its kind in the country.
In a statement, Robert Price, president of Brooks Energy, said the transformed and repurposed station will be designed “with the goals to provide clean reliable power and an additional focus on empowering local New Mexico communities.”
If the purchase of the station becomes reality, the project will also see the construction of a 3-mile long pipeline needed for transporting natural gas to the plant, as well as the building of injection and monitoring wells, and a hydrogen purification system.
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Congress moving on New Surface Transportation Legislation
5/28/2021
Up to 90% of total new federal highway funding will go directly to the states for individual projects, as defined by legislation just introduced in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The legislation is a step in the direction of passing the massive Surface Transportation Act of 2021, which has a 5-year life, and increases funding by some 22% above current levels.
The legislation, notes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, not only supports highway work for urban and rural communities, it also stands to improve project delivery, and provide “flexibility necessary for states to maintain and improve their roads and bridges.”
As proposed, the bill establishes a baseline funding level of around $303 billion for highway, road, and bridge projects.
The legislation also aims to increase the number of miles designated by a state, and subject to funding, as a critical rural freight corridor from 150 to 300 miles, while increasing from 75 miles to 150 miles roadways defined as critical urban freight corridors.
The current Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act was signed into law in 2015 and given a one-year extension in 2020.
That extension is scheduled to expire on September 30.
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Green Light Given for Much-anticipated Denver Mixed-Use Project
5/28/2021
An imaginative multi-phase project along the South Platte River in Denver that has been in the talking and planning stage for the last two years is now closer to becoming reality with a favorable city council rezoning vote.
What could end up being more than 1.5 million square feet of commerce space, along with up to 1,400 residential units, is being developed by the Formativ company of Denver, and the Chicago-based Golub & Company.
At least 15% of the housing units will be designated as affordable.
The new zoning at the site in the city’s popular River North Art District will allow for mixed-use development with building heights topping out at 20 stories on the deep inland section of the site, and 8 stories closer to the river.
As planned, the site, which was purchased by Formativ and Golub in the summer of 2019 for $86 million, will also include green space, space for public art, and a pedestrian walkway.
Designer for the site is the Tryba Architects, also of Denver.
The site, mostly off the 2600 blocks of Arkins Court and the 3200 block of Denargo Street, formerly made up much of the historic Denargo Market, which was opened in the late 1930s.
That market comprised nearly 30 acres and included a refrigeration plant, restaurant, and more than 500 food vendor stalls.
The market was closed in the summer of 1971 after a devastating weed fire easily destroyed the many wood-framed vegetable boxes and sheds on the site.
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Big Cannabis Firm to Build New Facilities in New Mexico
5/27/2021
A cannabis manufacturing company has announced plans to build a modern new facility in Grants, New Mexico.
Plans call for the building of an agricultural ecosystem that will belong to the Bright Green Corporation and will go up on roughly 150 acres in the western New Mexico city already owned by the company.
Altogether, Bright Green intends to spend up to $300 million on what is being described as a “world-class research facility.”
The company recently reached an official agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration allowing it to produce, store, and distribute medical research marijuana.
The announcement comes after the company worked for months with State of New Mexico officials and tribal communities in Cibola County to “create the right environment for innovation and research,” said Bright Green chairman Terry Rafih in a statement.
Construction on the project, to be done in two phases, could launch later this year, with the initial work encompassing some 20 acres.
By Garry Boulard
