The south side of the White House is photographed from the South Lawn, Monday Aug. 29, 2022. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith)
The Biden administration is directing $7 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law to build seven regional hydrogen power hubs in 16 states, the White House announced Friday.
The projects, each of which is a cluster of assets that produce and process hydrogen fuel as an alternative to fossil fuels, will benefit the climate, the economy and U.S. energy security, administration officials told reporters Thursday. Officials previewed the announcement on the condition they not be named.
“Advancing clean hydrogen is essential to achieving the President’s vision of a strong clean energy economy that strengthens energy security, bolsters domestic manufacturing, creates healthier communities, and delivers new jobs and economic opportunities across the nation,” a news release from the White House said.
Congress approved the funding as part of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law early in President Joe Biden’s term in 2021.
The projects will have assets in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Montana, California, Delaware, Texas, North Dakota and Illinois. A hub based in Houston could “perhaps” involve Louisiana, an administration official said.
Hydrogen fuel is an important part of the administration’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the White House said.
Clean hydrogen is especially important for the most difficult sectors to decarbonize, including heavy-duty transportation and chemical, steel, and cement manufacturing, according to the release.
The hubs are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 25 million metric tons each year, the equivalent of 5.5 million gas-powered cars, the White House said. The projects will contribute about one-third of the administration’s clean hydrogen goal.
The administration projects the seven hubs will create tens of thousands of jobs and would prompt more than $40 billion in private investment, an administration official said Thursday.
Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm are scheduled to make an appearance in Philadelphia on Friday to announce a hub based there.
The projects are: