Washington — Clean-energy projects in seven states from Pennsylvania to California have been selected by the Biden administration for a $7 billion program to kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel, a key component of President Joe Biden’s agenda to slow climate change.
He aims to create seven regional “hydrogen hubs” in order to substitute coal and oil with hydrogen, a cleaner-burning energy source for vehicles, manufacturing, and electricity generation.
During a visit to Philadelphia on Friday that focuses on the economy, Mr. Biden is anticipated to formally announce his plans.
Clean hydrogen is deemed crucial by the White House in order to fulfill the president’s goal of establishing a robust clean energy economy and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2050.
The White House stated that hydrogen, being a clean fuel, works alongside other clean energy sources such as wind and solar to assist in reducing emissions in energy-intensive sectors of the economy like steel and cement production, heavy-duty transportation, and shipping.
The global Hydrogen Council predicts hydrogen could fill 18% of global energy demand by 2050.
According to the White House, the administration’s selection of seven hubs will stimulate over $40 billion in private investment and generate a substantial number of well-compensated positions, including numerous high-paying union jobs.
A total of 23 finalists were chosen for the hydrogen fuel program, with selected projects located in California, Washington, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Illinois.
Billions of dollars were allocated in the 2021 infrastructure law signed by Mr. Biden to support the development of clean hydrogen, a technology that has been advocated by industry and clean-energy supporters as a means to combat greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
Hydrogen is often criticized by environmentalists as a false solution due to its reliance on natural gas or other fossil fuels as feedstocks.
According to energy companies, if projects are able to capture the carbon dioxide produced and prevent it from entering the atmosphere, fossil fuels can be utilized as feedstocks. However, it is important to note that this technology has not yet been successfully implemented at a commercial level.
The new Energy Department program aims to establish regional networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and infrastructure to expedite the accessibility and utilization of the colorless, odorless gas that already fuels certain vehicles and trains. This has sparked a competition between states and businesses vying for federal funding.
The seven “hub” sites
Two of the selected projects were the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, located in West Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub based in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state in the upcoming election for the Democratic president, stands to gain from both initiatives.
Mr. Biden has made Philadelphia a regular stop for both official and campaign events, and partners in the proposed Philadelphia-area hub have labor unions that are key Biden supporters. The West Virginia-based hub includes major Pittsburgh-based natural gas companies that are active in the region’s prolific Marcellus Shale reservoir, including the parent company of the operator of the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia and Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who played a vital role in passing comprehensive legislation focused on climate initiatives last year, is backing the $6.6 billion venture aimed at transporting natural gas across Appalachia. However, critics argue that the pipeline’s construction would result in climate pollution equivalent to that of 23 coal-fired power plants and cause damage to forested areas spanning 303 miles along its route.
Under construction in northern Pennsylvania, there is a $1.6 billion facility in the hub aiming to produce hydrogen with near-zero emissions from natural gas.
“This is an incredibly significant development for … Appalachia, especially considering that these facilities are located in regions where coal held immense importance,” expressed Perry Babb, the president of KeyState, a Pennsylvania site owner and developer.
The partners in the Appalachian hub have expressed that it has the potential to generate hydrogen from methane by employing heat, steam, and pressure. Additionally, it aims to capture the carbon dioxide produced during this process.
Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey form the backbone of the Mid-Atlantic hub. Authorities emphasize their commitment to achieving maximum climate-friendliness by employing electrolysis, a process that harnesses renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power, to produce hydrogen by splitting water molecules.
Among the chosen initiatives is the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems in California. This endeavor aims to generate hydrogen using renewable energy and biomass. Its primary objective is to establish a model for reducing carbon emissions in public transportation, heavy duty trucking, and port operations. These sectors are prominent contributors to air pollution within the state.
Located in Houston, the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub will serve as the focal point for the United States’ energy capital. With a focus on sustainability, the hub aims to produce substantial amounts of hydrogen through the utilization of both natural gas and renewable sources.
The Heartland hub, headquartered in Minnesota, aims to eliminate carbon emissions from fertilizer used in agriculture and promote the adoption of clean hydrogen in electricity generation and cold climate space heating. Additionally, it intends to provide equity ownership opportunities to tribal communities and local farmers.
The utilization of hydrogen in steel and glass production, power generation, heavy-duty transportation, and sustainable aviation fuel will be implemented in the Midwest hub encompassing Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The hub intends to incorporate renewable energy, natural gas, and nuclear energy as part of its strategy.
Clean hydrogen will be produced by the Pacific Northwest hub, located in eastern Washington, utilizing hydropower and other renewable resources.
According to Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, the hub is considered excellent news for the Pacific Northwest. She believes it will generate numerous job opportunities and ensure that Washington takes a prominent position in the expansion of the green hydrogen industry.
Almost all states have participated in at least one proposed hub, with numerous collaborations among them, aiming to benefit from the economic growth and abundance of job opportunities they would offer. Additionally, major fossil fuel corporations, renewable energy developers, as well as university and government research labs, have also been actively engaged in these endeavors.
Many environmentalists aren’t hydrogen fans
Environmental organizations express doubt, claiming that although hydrogen is a clean-burning energy source, its production requires a significant amount of energy. When generated using electricity from coal or natural gas, it results in a larger carbon footprint compared to directly burning the original fuel.
Silas Grant, a campaigner with the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the administration for its continuous failure to fulfill its promises in combatting climate change and facilitating a fair and equitable transition to renewable energy, referring to hydrogen as another deceptive tactic.
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