Frequently asked questions
We are developing a privately-funded project that uses primarily wind energy and water to create pollution-free hydrogen and liquid fuels which will be used to support the burgeoning clean hydrogen economy in the United States.
The renewable energy generating facilities will power an electrolysis facility that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. This clean hydrogen could be used directly for numerous applications or could be further combined with other gases to make ammonia or synthetic fuels.
Yes. Producing and storing hydrogen has been done safely in the United States for over 100 years, as hydrogen is a key input to refining and fertilizer production. The hydrogen produced at the Sidewinder project will be temporarily and safely stored and then, through an innovative process, combined with carbon dioxide to create synthetic fuels that are chemically almost identical to conventional fuels. The Sidewinder project will follow all applicable health and safety guidelines to ensure we are a responsible, trustworthy partner to the local community. We will also work closely with local officials and first responders as we develop our safety plans.
No. Sidewinder will not condemn land or exercise eminent domain. All land for the project is being leased from willing landowners, not bought or owned by foreign entities or countries. There could be isolated instances in which the project may have to purchase a small portion of land from willing landowners for infrastructure such as an electric substation to comply with national electric codes, but the goal of this project is the continuity of the current landowners.
Clean hydrogen is a major opportunity to increase American energy independence and create sustainable economic development in rural America. Hydrogen is a critical commodity for industry now and is in demand for new applications in energy, agriculture, industry, and transportation. Electrolysis, the process that creates hydrogen from water, has been a proven technology for more than one hundred years. However, the high amounts of electricity needed for electrolysis have prevented it from being an economical, scalable source of industrial hydrogen until now. Today’s technology makes it possible to produce clean hydrogen in a way that is useful, safe, and economical.
Wind and solar energy technology has advanced to the point where these technologies are now the lowest-cost ways to generate electricity. That makes the economics of clean hydrogen work and gives us an opportunity to create cleaner versions of the fuel we need here at home with just wind and water.
Large-scale, clean hydrogen projects are being announced around the world, with significant progress being made during the past year as countries and industries are aiming to decarbonize and reduce dependence on imported energy. Wyoming is working with neighboring states to support clean hydrogen and become one of the United States’ hydrogen hubs.
The anticipated water use is a function of the size of the project, which is still being determined. However, we are planning for water use up to 1,000 gallons per minute, which is comparable to the annual draw of only two to three 130-acre center pivots and is far less than other nearby oil and gas operations.
On a life cycle basis, clean hydrogen is a water-efficient source of fuel compared with conventional fuel types. It is 5% more water efficient than gasoline and 98% more water efficient than ethanol, on a gallons of gasoline energy equivalent basis.
We recognize that water is the lifeblood of Western communities and that it needs to be protected for current and future generations. Therefore, we are taking various actions to ensure responsible water use and are pursuing the following sources of water:
Transferring existing surface water rights
Purchasing water from existing wells
Drilling water from extremely deep (rarely used) brackish aquifers that are disconnected from existing subsurface wells used today.
We are working with the Wyoming State Engineer's Office (Water Division), which provides robust guidelines and oversight to ensure water projects are developed within the strict rules prescribed by Wyoming law. We are also working with office officials to ensure we have a clear understanding of restrictions and sensitivities around water use in this area. The Sidewinder team is committed to using water as efficiently and responsibly as we can, and we will share more details on our water use plan as they become available.
The project will be located on private and/or state land that is voluntarily leased by eastern Wyoming landowners. The hydrogen processing facility will have a footprint of about 50 acres, and the wind project will include hundreds of wind turbines. We expect that the project will be located a significant distance away from neighboring communities. Most importantly, our clean hydrogen technology means the entire process will be clean, safe, and sustainable.
The Sidewinder project is aiming to start construction between 2027 and 2029. We currently estimate that construction will take approximately three years, the total number of workers ebbing and flowing throughout that time based on the construction schedule. It's common for large projects such as this to require temporary facilities to host the workforce, and we have identified existing sewer and water services that are available. Approximately 200 long-term good-paying jobs will be created to maintain the facilities. Sidewinder has confirmed that real estate developers are actively working on new housing within Niobrara County that could serve these workers.
We believe that farmers and ranchers should decide how to best use their land and look forward to partnering with Wyoming landowners who are eager to host this project and maximize the revenue from their property. Landowners hosting the wind project will see a consistent revenue stream which will assist in maintaining continued family ownership of those ranches for generations to come. Wyoming has ample land available, and the project will be able to operate alongside other land uses.
No. The wind project infrastructure will only encumber less than 2% of the land it is hosted on so that existing uses can be continued. A solar component to the project will require a change in the use of that property, but it will not impact surrounding ground due to the benign nature of the technology. Solar generation produces no air pollution, consumes no water, produces no audible emissions, and has minimal to no visual impacts. Landowners who choose to participate in the project will carefully review their agreements to make sure their rights and land are protected.