Rep. Schrier to DOE Secretary Granholm: Washington State Ideally Suited to Be a Coveted Hydrogen Hub
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) participated in an Energy Subcommittee hearing with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget priorities. Rep. Schrier focused on green hydrogen hubs and the ways Washington state is well-positioned to be a leader, creating a new industry and the many jobs that go with it. Rep. Schrier’s remarks can be found here.
“In Washington state, we are blessed with a wealth of affordable, non-emitting hydropower. Washington’s clean electricity provides a great laboratory for generating green hydrogen. In my district, Douglas County PUD has a pilot project right now to store excess hydropower as liquid hydrogen. Tacoma Power is the first utility in the nation to introduce a special lower power rate for electrofuels to encourage hydrogen production, and private industry is ready to pilot hydrogen powered cargo ships, airplanes, delivery vehicles, and 18 wheelers. In other words, our state is ideally situated to be a truly green hydrogen hub,” Congresswoman Schrier said.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $9.5B for clean hydrogen: $1B for electrolysis research, development and demonstration; $500M for clean hydrogen technology manufacturing and recycling R&D; and $8B for at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs. A draft solicitation for proposal for the regional hub program is expected by May 15th.
Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen fuel produced using renewable sources of energy, such as hydropower. Compressed hydrogen can be stored and transported similar to oil and gas today, and there is growing focus on hydrogen fuel cell powered cars and trucks, which are already being piloted in Washington State. Hydrogen power can also be used for manufacturing and stands to be one of many ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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