Pennsylvania is working to establish a hydrogen center to promote greener energy, more economic prospects, and job growth.
Gov. Tom Wolf said that businesses around the state are launching decarbonization efforts utilizing hydrogen technology, a clean fuel that is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a news release, the focus is on the deployment of clean hydrogen and carbon collection, utilization, and storage technology.
The goal is to develop a regional ecosystem that will help the state accomplish decarbonization, transition to clean hydrogen and maintain its competitiveness in attracting investment and creating employment across the board.
“As governor of Pennsylvania, I’ve always supported energy policy that pushes us toward a cleaner energy future while also creating good-paying jobs in the energy sector,” Wolf said.
“As a national leader in energy and industry with a robust workforce, Pennsylvania is well-positioned to lead the transition to clean energy,” he added.
A state legislator representing the greater Williamsport area endorsed the concept.
“The proposed hydrogen center is an excellent chance for collaboration,” said state Senator Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township.
To guarantee that the US Department of Energy invests in Pennsylvania, the state is working with energy, organized labor, and environmental partners.
A declaration signed by twenty-four industrial, labor, and non-profit partners signaled their commitment.
According to the news release, financing under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, might help.
It is a portion of Joe Biden’s presidency.
The administration’s initiative to boost the usage of sustainable energy in order to create well-paying energy employment.
“I am glad the governor agrees that Pennsylvania must continue to lead the way on energy development, and his plan to decarbonize our industrial sector using clean hydrogen is an excellent complement to my own legislation that would establish Pennsylvania as a carbon capture and sequestration hub,” Yaw said.
“I am delighted by his awareness of Pennsylvania’s rich natural resources and robust energy output, and I hope that we can collaborate to position our state at the forefront of this new sector,” Yaw said.
“We need to prioritize energy and climate policies that work together to stimulate economic development, generate jobs, and keep Pennsylvania a top place to live and work for decades to come,” Yaw added.
To boost the use of clean hydrogen in the industrial sector, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act contains $8 billion for at least four Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs. At least two of the hubs must be situated in regions of the United States with abundant natural gas supplies, like Pennsylvania, according to the BIL. Pursuing this possibility might help the state create more environmentally friendly jobs.
By 2050, Biden wants to see a considerable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
California will compete for a piece of the $8 billion set aside by President Joe Biden to create hydrogen production centers, joining a crowded field of states vying for the funds.
California’s economic development agency said on May 18 that the state will submit a state-backed proposal for hydrogen financing. Although it referenced collaborating with Los Angeles officials on the idea, the release did not specify any specific projects that may get funding. The Los Angeles area is planning several large-scale hydrogen production and fueling projects, and the city council agreed on May 17 to seek federal assistance as a regional center.
Hydrogen can power plants, factories, trains, ships, and heavy-duty vehicles without emitting CO2, and governments across the world are increasingly seeing the gas as a critical instrument in the battle against climate change. The infrastructure bill enacted last year calls for the establishment of at least four centers around the country where hydrogen may be generated and consumed, paving the way for its widespread acceptance.
“California has the market experience, workforce talent, public and private investment base, and renewable resources to collaborate with the federal government to build an economically resilient, expanding hydrogen hub that aids national success,” said Dee Dee Myers, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
