Water at Risk

 One of the most alarming aspects of the Pronghorn H2 Project is its massive water demand — an issue that has far-reaching implications for the environment, agriculture, and the daily lives of people in and around Glenrock, Wyoming. While green hydrogen may be marketed as clean energy, its production is anything but water-wise.  Water scarcity is no longer a distant concern — it’s a present and escalating crisis. The Pronghorn H2 Project’s outsized water demand threatens to tip the balance in a region already stretched thin. Green hydrogen may aim to reduce carbon emissions, but it should not come at the cost of our rivers, aquifers, farms, and families. 

 Green hydrogen is created by splitting water molecules through electrolysis — a process that requires enormous volumes of water. According to the project’s own estimates, the hydrogen production alone will require approximately 300 acre-feet of usable water per year. However, when accounting for inefficiencies and other site operations (solar farm cooling, maintenance, and evaporation), the total annual water draw could easily approach 500 acre-feet.

To put that in perspective, 500 acre-feet equals 163 million gallons of water — in a region already experiencing ongoing drought conditions and strained water supplies.

 Two potential water sources have been identified:

• The North Platte River 
• Deep aquifers, possibly the Madison Formation
   

Both options come with serious risks:

• Drawing from the North Platte River could impact downstream users, reduce flow levels, and degrade fish and aquatic habitats. 
• Tapping deep aquifers like the Madison Formation could deplete non-renewable groundwater reserves and disturb geologic stability.

Either choice introduces long-term environmental consequences and raises questions about the project’s sustainability.

What goes in must come out — and that’s where the project poses an even greater threat. Not all water used in the process is recoverable:

• Up to 33% of drawn water will be lost — 10% through evaporation and 23% through deep well injection.
• Water from deep wells, particularly the Madison Formation, contains high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) including sodium bicarbonate and calcium sulfate.

If wastewater isn’t properly treated, salinity and mineral buildup could poison soil, degrade farmland, and pollute surface waters — affecting not only the environment, but also local ranchers, farmers, and municipal water systems.

Water is the lifeblood of Wyoming’s rural communities. Diverting hundreds of millions of gallons annually for industrial purposes threatens:

• Irrigation for crops and livestock 
• Health of aquatic ecosystems and fisheries 
• Recreational uses like boating and fishing on the North Platte 
• Municipal water supplies, including Glenrock's 

Every drop redirected to the Pronghorn H2 Project is a drop not available for communities, wildlife, and working lands that depend on it.

 To date, the project has failed to provide clear, consistent, and independently verified data about:

• Exact water volumes required 
• Source authorization and rights 
• Wastewater treatment and discharge plans 
• Impacts on existing water users

This lack of transparency breeds mistrust and uncertainty — and raises legitimate fears of long-term damage to the region’s most precious natural resource.

 We call on elected officials, regulatory agencies, and project developers to:

• Halt the project until full hydrological studies are released 
• Disclose all planned water withdrawals and treatment methods 
• Ensure zero discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment 
• Protect water rights for existing users, farmers, and wildlife

Wyoming’s future depends on protecting its water — not sacrificing it for an unproven industrial experiment.