President Joe Biden has announced the development of seven regional hubs across the US to promote the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The $7bn initiative aims to create jobs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Department of Energy has selected the hubs through a competitive process, involving 17 states, and the majority of projects are expected to fast track commercial-scale “clean hydrogen” production. The funding comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with each region receiving a different amount of funding based on their individual proposals and goals.
The regions selected for the hydrogen hubs include California, the Gulf Coast of Texas, the Ohio River Valley, the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, and a combined region of North and South Dakota and Minnesota. Additionally, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey will form the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen hub, while West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky will establish the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub. Washington, Oregon, and Montana will create a hydrogen hub in the Pacific Northwest, and California will use funding to develop and deploy clean renewable hydrogen. The initiative aims to create thousands of jobs and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
However, the plan has faced criticism from some quarters, with concerns raised about the reliance on natural gas to produce hydrogen and a lack of transparency in the selection process. Critics argue that investment in hydrogen hubs deepens dependence on fossil fuels and exacerbates the climate emergency. They are calling for greater public engagement and project accountability to address these issues. Nevertheless, the White House remains committed to the initiative, predicting the elimination of 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and combined public and private investments reaching $50 billion.
