Governor Kathy Hochul said that Vermont has joined a multi-state agreement to draft a proposal to become one of up to 10 federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Vermont joins New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island in the Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub, a consortium of seven states and more than 100 clean hydrogen ecosystem partners that is developing and submitting a full proposal to the US Department of Energy to compete for funding from the $8 billion federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The news enhances each State’s clean hydrogen infrastructure deployment and climate commitments. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050.
Since its March 2022 announcement and August 2022 update, the Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub has added strategic partners from across the clean hydrogen ecosystem, including private sector industry leaders, infrastructure and logistics experts, non-profits, technology and equipment manufacturers, hydrogen project developers, transportation leaders, utilities, and state agencies.
Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub partners will work with NYSERDA, NYPA, and ESD to create clean hydrogen project proposals.
Partnering states will work with their state entities to match the collaborative’s efforts with their climate and renewable energy goals. These include Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, Massachusetts’ goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act goal of 80 percent by 2050, Maine’s statutory goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050, and Rhode Island’s commitment to 100 percent.
The New York Climate Action Council Scoping Plan, approved in December 2022, recommends strategic use of low-carbon fuels like clean hydrogen to enable rapid and broad building efficiency and electrification to meet the Climate Act’s targets, notably in transportation and heavy industries.
These agreements will join those previously announced to build a clear vision and structure for the regional clean hydrogen hub to ensure a linked hydrogen ecosystem across all partner states with demonstrable greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Hub concept will focus on climate and environmental justice to provide opportunities and improved quality of life to neglected populations across the region.
The group will continue to integrate renewables, such as onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, and solar PV, and nuclear power into clean hydrogen production and evaluate clean hydrogen for use in transportation, including medium and heavy-duty vehicles, heavy industry, power generation, and other decarbonization-compatible uses.
In September 2022, the DOE published an initial Clean Hydrogen Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with concept papers due November 7, 2022. On December 27, 2022, DOE informed the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub to develop a comprehensive proposal by April 7, 2023. Proposals can receive $1.25 billion.
