Vermont Joins Group Developing Proposal to Become a Regional Hydrogen Hub

February 14, 2023

by Peter Maloney
APPA News
February 14, 2023

Vermont has become the seventh state to sign on to develop a proposal for a Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub.

Vermont joins Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island, along with 100 clean hydrogen ecosystem partners, in their efforts to develop and submit a proposal to the Department of Energy to compete for $8 billion in funding to become one of up to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs designated under the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The seven states and their partners will continue to focus on the integration of renewables, such as onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, photovoltaic solar power, and nuclear power into clean hydrogen production, and the evaluation of clean hydrogen for use in transportation, including for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, heavy industry, and power generation applications.

The Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub partners have committed to collaborate with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), and Empire State Development (ESD) on proposal development to advance clean hydrogen projects.

Partnering states will also coordinate with their respective state entities to help align the collaborative’s efforts with each state’s climate and clean energy goals.

Those include:

  • Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050
  • Massachusetts’ goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
  • New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050
  • Maine’s statutory goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050
  • Rhode Island’s commitment to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2033 and
  • Vermont’s Global Warming Solutions Act goal, which requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas pollution 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050

A report available to members of the American Public Power Association offers details on where the emerging hydrogen market is in the U.S. and globally, what is driving the growing interest in hydrogen and what obstacles are preventing hydrogen technology from being able to scale-up. The report is available here.