Washington State among big winners of $7 billion federal clean hydrogen hub program

Hydrogen projects in the 20th Legislative District could soon see federal funding after the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement today that the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s (PNWH2) Hub was selected for award negotiations as one of the nation’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.

“Congratulations to our local project leaders and the State of Washington on successfully securing these investments. I am excited to see federal dollars investing in clean hydrogen projects right here in the 20th District,” said Rep. Peter Abbarno, co-chair of the Hydrogen Caucus in the Washington State Legislature. “Washington State produces hydrogen with fossil fuels. These projects will boost that capacity through a cleaner process.”

USA Fortescue Future Industries, Inc. plans to build a green hydrogen production facility in Centralia near the TransAlta coal-fired power plant and Twin Transit wants Washington’s first hydrogen fueling station to be built in Chehalis.

Both projects are included under the PNWH2 Hub.

The PNWH2 Hub could receive up to $1 billion in federal funding over four development phases spanning nine years. $20 million will be allocated for Phase 1.  

DOE and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2) will begin negotiating the funding and plans for the hub this fall. PNWH2 is a multistate coalition that includes Washington, Oregon, and Montana, as well as public and private entities, working to advance clean, renewable hydrogen.

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $7 billion to establish regional clean hydrogen hubs across America. On April 6, PNWH2 submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in a bid to become a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.

“Clean, renewable hydrogen has been a very bipartisan issue because it will help decarbonize our hard-to-electrify heavy-duty transport and industries, bolster our domestic and international security, grow our local economy, and improve our environment,” added Abbarno. “These federal dollars will create jobs, offer priority hiring programs for former coal industry workers, and invest more than $4 million in the Centralia College training center for worker training. Today’s announcement helps put Washington on the map as an international hydrogen hub.”  

Abbarno is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1729, a measure that would create and expand tax incentives for developing and selling hydrogen fuel products.

In addition, Abbarno:

  • Co-sponsored House Bill 1236 (2023), which provides authority for state transit agencies to produce and distribute renewable and electrolytic hydrogen and own or operate fueling stations that can sell to the public – an opportunity that encourages public-private infrastructure partnerships to provide hydrogen fuel to vehicle fleets and the public; 
  • Supported Senate Bill 5910 (2022), which authorized municipal, public, and state hydrogen production, sale, and use;
  • Voted for $2 million to develop a “Green Hydrogen Hub” proposal for the U.S. Department of Energy; and
  • Helped secure funding in the 2021 capital budget for Washington’s first hydrogen refueling station in Chehalis.

The 20th Legislative District lawmaker has been a leader on advancing hydrogen in Washington, serving as co-chair of the Hydrogen Caucus, ranking member on the Capital Budget Committee, and as a member on the House Environment and Energy Committee.

On May 18, the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance (WGHA) named Abbarno as a recipient of their Washington Green Hydrogen Legislative Champion award.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov