A bipartisan group of nearly 20 legislators has asked Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to increase funding for hydrogen in the state budget by $300 million and set aside 20% of the state’s Clean Transportation Program funding to bolster hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California.
“For all communities to truly participate in this exciting transition, hydrogen fueling infrastructure will be critical,” wrote the legislators. “Both zero emission vehicle technologies are essential to meet the needs of all consumers and assure public acceptance. These recommendations will provide the support and signal needed for private sector investments to enable California’s zero emission vehicle future.”
Signing the letter were Senators Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), and Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) as well as Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), Tom Daly (D-Anaheim), Vince Fong (R-Kern County), Chad Mayes (I-La Quinta), Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood), Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), James Ramos (D-Highland), and Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).
In addition, Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield), also penned his own letter urging increased state support for hydrogen infrastructure
“Intended to support Executive Order N-79-20 related to zero emission vehicles, the 2021-2022 revised budget proposal provides $500M in general fund dollars for near-term investments in fueling infrastructure,” wrote the legislators. “We respectfully request $300M be made available to bring the light-duty hydrogen market to a point of self-sufficiency, as illustrated by the Air Resources Board.
“The 2021-2022 revised budget proposal also calls for the reauthorization of the Clean Transportation Program. Outside of the broadly-available Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program, the Clean Transportation Program is the only program directly supporting hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Therefore, we request the reauthorization maintain the existing 20% set-aside for hydrogen while shifting focus to the heavy-duty fueling market, including transit agencies.”
