California hydrogen hub receives first DOE award in a significant step forward to decarbonize transportation across the western U.S.
WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the first hydrogen hub in California, led by the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) as a part of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) Regional Hydrogen Hubs program. ARCHES is primarily focused on developing electrolytic, alongside some biogenic, hydrogen production to decarbonize aspects of the transportation sector, including heavy-duty trucking and port operations.
“The Regional Hydrogen Hubs program has a critical role to play in achieving U.S. decarbonization goals and bolstering the U.S. hydrogen market, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like transportation,” said Holly Reuter, Climate and Clean Energy Policy Implementation Director at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). “We are pleased that DOE is efficiently moving forward with the development of this important demonstration program.
DOE’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs is a first-of-its-kind demonstrations program, included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to catalyze the U.S. clean hydrogen economy. Hubs combine hydrogen production with end uses for industry, transportation, and more to stimulate hydrogen use in key sectors. These hubs support local economies and jobs and establish critical, connective infrastructure across regions to extend the availability of hydrogen across the U.S. Effectively implementing the hydrogen hubs program will be essential to maximizing climate and community benefits.
Reuter continued: “This is just one of the first steps in implementing the hydrogen hubs program. Ensuring transparency, two-way engagement, and accountability will be critical in moving forward to ensure successful hub development. We look forward to seeing hubs, communities, and DOE work together in this next phase of deployment.”
CATF has been a source of information for hub-related developments for regional and local governments, communities, industry stakeholders, and more. Read more about the importance of community benefits plans and clean transportation corridors.
“As the largest hub and first to be awarded Phase 1 funding from OCED, this significant investment into ARCHES marks a promising step toward creating a sustainable future in California by building an interconnected, clean hydrogen ecosystem,” said Maggie Field, Western Hubs Manager at CATF. “In addition to the focus on deploying hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors such as ports and maritime, we are encouraged to see ARCHES’ community benefits charter highlight engagement pathways for key stakeholders, including public working groups that do not require non-disclosure agreements for project level engagement. It will be critical to monitor these processes and ensure they deliver on promised benefits to California citizens.”
“Clean transportation corridors are key to expanding the reach of hydrogen hubs and bolstering climate, public health, and economic benefits, particularly for communities living along heavy-duty and long-haul trucking routes,” said Jonathan Lewis, Transportation Decarbonization Director at CATF. “ARCHES has a robust plan to build more than 60 hydrogen fueling stations that will serve more than 5,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks. By coordinating that activity with similar investments in the Pacific Northwest hub, ARCHES will not only increase the economic viability of both hydrogen hubs, but also lay the foundation for a national network of clean freight corridors.”
CATF also provides resources and tracks progress on the ground to show benefits from federal climate and clean energy investment through its resource hub.
Contacto con la prensa
Samantha Sadowski, Directora de Comunicación, Estados Unidos, ssadowski@catf.us, +1 202-440-1717
Acerca de Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
