States around the US are striving to become hydrogen centers in the hopes of getting some of the $9.5 billion in federal monies set aside for clean hydrogen programs, similar to Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
In February, the US Department of Energy issued two requests for information to aid in the development of President Joe Biden’s ambitious hydrogen ambitions under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Creating at least four regional hydrogen hubs and initiatives for electrolysis and clean hydrogen manufacturing/recycling are among IIJA’s highlights.
According to DOE, clean hydrogen is fundamental to Biden’s strategy for the United States to create a 100 percent clean electricity system by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Most of today’s hydrogen is created by steam-methane reforming from natural gas and other methane sources. Electrolysis can also be used to make it (when electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen).
Governors are creating partnerships with one other for regional hydrogen centers in the hopes of leapfrogging current difficulties and triumphing over competitors in the race for future clean-energy cash and employment.
Gov. Tom Wolf launched an ambitious drive to make Pennsylvania a clean hydrogen center on May 16. “As a national leader in energy and industry with a strong workforce, Pennsylvania is well-positioned to lead the transition to a new energy environment in which fuels like hydrogen play a key role in both our economic growth and our decarbonization ambitions,” Wolf said.
California jumped in two days later with its formal announcement of the formation of a renewable hydrogen hub. “Low-cost, renewable hydrogen is one of the main components in our attempts to rapidly cut pollution from the transportation sector, from public transit to long-haul haulage,” said Toks Omishakin, secretary of the state transportation agency. “As part of a varied and sustainable transportation system, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles of all sorts — including automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, buses, rail, and watercraft — are an appropriate complement to battery-powered vehicles.”
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming launched the Western Inter-States Hydrogen Hub in April. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a regional hydrogen hub led by New York a month ago, calling Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey “longstanding champions in hydrogen and fuel cell innovation, and crucial neighbors on the I-95 corridor.”
Since its first meeting on Feb. 25, West Virginia’s Hydrogen Hub Coalition has been busy, submitting its request to serve as a DOE regional clean hydrogen hub by March 21.
“West Virginia is the right spot for this critical hydrogen center. “Thanks to our abundant natural resources and our experienced and devoted workforce, West Virginia has long served as the home of all types of cutting-edge technology innovations in energy production,” Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement.
West Virginia legislators joined the coalition in April and took part in a signing ceremony. “We will demonstrate what West Virginians are capable of when we put our heads together to work toward a shared goal by pulling the rope together,” Justice said.
