Rep. Schrier, with Washington, Oregon delegation, Secures Funding for PNW Hydrogen Hub to Create a Robust Clean Energy Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) with members of the Washington and Oregon House delegations celebrated the Department of Energy’s announcement naming the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s (PNWH2) as a recipient of one of seven nationwide hydrogen hubs that will share a total $7 billion DOE investment.
Earlier this year, Rep. Schrier and Sen. Cantwell led a bipartisan group in writing a letter of support for the PNWH2’s application to the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program (H2Hubs).
PNWH2 is a public-private partnership made up of the region’s key stakeholders in a future hydrogen industry: the private sector, government, academic, research and philanthropic groups. Under their proposal, hydrogen will be produced by harnessing existing clean, low-cost, and abundant hydropower resources in the region, resulting in the greenest hydrogen in the nation. Their proposal demonstrated how clean hydrogen can support decarbonization efforts already being made in the transportation, maritime, industrial, and agriculture sectors, as well as the rapidly expanding zero-carbon aviation sector being pioneered in our region. The funding is critical to creating a clean hydrogen network and will propel the region to be a leader in the production, processing, delivery, storage, and use of clean hydrogen while creating clean energy jobs.
“In Washington state, we are blessed with a wealth of affordable hydropower. Washington’s clean electricity provides a great opportunity to generate green hydrogen using excess power not needed on the grid,” said Rep. Schrier (WA-08). “This investment means the Pacific Northwest will house the greenest hydrogen in the nation, will create thousands of good paying, clean energy jobs, and will provide a massive boost to our economy. It will put Washington State and the 8th District at the forefront of global clean energy innovation.”
“Washington has long been a trailblazer in clean energy technology, and today’s announcement will help solidify our position as a hydrogen powerhouse,” said Rep. DelBene (WA-01). “This achievement will not only drive economic growth across the region but also contribute to reducing our carbon footprint. The congressional delegation’s strong support for this designation signifies the broad appeal of these types of investments and jobs across our region.”
“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Northwest Washington will be a leader in cleaner and greener energy production,” said Rep. Larsen(WA-02), who serves as the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “This historic investment in the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub will create thousands of jobs while reducing costs for working families, pulling more pollution out of transportation, agriculture and industry, and building a cleaner and greener future in our communities.”
“Today’s federal investments in green hydrogen production in the Northwest including in Centralia will lead to good clean energy and construction jobs, promote energy security across Southwest Washington, and contribute to a cleaner future,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). “Clean energy can’t happen without rural economies like ours, and I am so proud to fight for hardworking people who believe in investing in the future. It’s an honor to fight to secure these federal funds alongside the Washington state delegation.”
“This is a big deal. With this announcement, the Pacific Northwest is poised to lead the nation in the clean hydrogen revolution,” said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). “Harnessing our region’s extraordinary resources, the PNWH2 will not only showcase the potential of an integrated hydrogen economy but will also serve as a beacon for sustainable innovation across America.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of a partnership between environmental, labor, industry, and public sector stakeholders to advance a strong vision for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub. Hydrogen energy will allow us to decarbonize multiple sectors of the economy and create a clean electrical grid, which is crucial to cleaning up the environment,” said Rep. Smith (WA-09). “Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program is working to create clean energy technologies and create good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy. The selection of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub furthers the work being done to make Washington a leader in hydrogen energy.”
“The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub is a critical part of advancing our environmental goals and growing our clean energy economy,” said Rep. Strickland (WA-10). “Today’s funding is a deep investment in our region, our people, and our future. This solidifies a path forward for bringing online another renewable energy source to help us transition to a cleaner energy future for the Pacific Northwest and our nation.”
“Clean hydrogen energy is a key aspect of decarbonizing our electric grid,” said Rep. Blumenauer (OR-03). “With today’s investment, the Pacific Northwest will become a national model for what that looks like in practice—creating a resilient, thriving clean energy economy.”
Rep. Schrier serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the Energy Subcommittee. The announcement follows more than a year of dialogue with Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the importance of directing this funding to Washington state, including an Energy subcommittee hearing with Secretary Granholm in April 2022.
In addition to Rep. Schrier and Sen. Cantwell, the letter was signed by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Val Hoyle (D, OR-04), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Andrea Salinas (D, OR-06), Lori Chavez DeRemer (R, OR-05), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Earl Blumenauer (D, OR-03), and Rick Larsen (D, WA-02) as well as Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).