Bill basics: According to a joint press release from the lawmakers, the legislation would do the following:
- Create a hydrogen R&D program focused on near-, medium-, and long-term goals for driving down costs for all sources of hydrogen production and for developing the transportation and storage of hydrogen.
- Develop four hydrogen “hubs” focused on the end uses of power generation, transportation, home and commercial heating, and industry. The hubs would enable coordination of projects to build out hydrogen production, storage, and use facilities.
- Direct the secretary of energy to create a technologically and economically feasible national strategy and road map to facilitate widescale production, processing, delivery, storage, and use of clean hydrogen.
- Invest in clean hydrogen manufacturing by providing grants for the build-out of manufacturing centers for producing hydrogen or the infrastructure for its transmission, storage, and use.
- Invest in driving down the cost of hydrogen made through renewable energy by electrolysis, with the goal of pushing “green” hydrogen below $2 per kilogram by 2026.
Clean-minded congressmen: “In the fight against climate change, hydrogen has the potential to be the best tool we have,” Doyle said. “Hydrogen can decarbonize transportation, power generation, and the industrial sector, all while utilizing existing infrastructure and fuel supplies. The U.S. needs to make strong investments into reducing the cost of making clean hydrogen and in developing its end uses, and this legislation does just that.”
Fitzpatrick added, “Providing funding for fuel cell and hydrogen technology paves the way for our nation’s clean energy future. We must commit to investing in clean energy technologies to reduce our carbon emissions while creating new American job opportunities. Now is the time to pass this much-needed legislation, which advances the production, distribution, and storage of clean hydrogen.”
