Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association Granted Phase 1 Award Status from U.S. Department of Energy
PNWH2 among the first U.S. Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to receive federal funding through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
SEATTLE – July 24, 2024 – The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2), a multi-state nonprofit organization focused on creating a robust network of clean hydrogen suppliers and end-users in the Pacific Northwest, announced today that it has received Phase 1 award status from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). PNWH2 is one of the first U.S. Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to move into Phase 1.
As part of this designation, PNWH2 will receive an initial amount of up to $27.5 million from a potential future $1 billion in federal funding, as outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Phase 1 will encompass initial planning, permitting, and analysis activities to ensure that the overall Hub concept is technologically and financially viable, with input from relevant local stakeholders.
“Today marks an important step for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and is the culmination of many months of discussions, planning and negotiations across our partners, stakeholders and community members,” said Chris Green, President of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association. “We are excited to embark on Phase 1 and lead the way in building a new clean energy commodity in the U.S. that will benefit generations of families throughout the region.”
Together with its partners, PNWH2 is establishing the Pacific Northwest as a national benchmark for successful low-carbon intensity and economically viable green hydrogen production. The PNWH2 Hub expects to consist of eight nodes across Washington, Oregon, and Montana and will leverage the region’s innovative technology and abundant renewable energy to address the hardest to abate end-users, such as public transit, agricultural products, medium and heavy-duty transport and the electric power industry.
Washington State University (WSU), with support from its Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE), will oversee the Community Benefits Plan for the PNWH2 Hub in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative. PNWH2 is committed to engaging communities to define and quantify benefits, avoid disproportionate burdens, and closely track and adjust to ensure that at least 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. These benefits will include the creation of more than 10,000 quality jobs and the development of STEM-based education programs from K-12 through college to ensure a pipeline of trained and qualified workers to build, then operate and maintain the Hub’s hydrogen projects. Project management for the PNWH2 Hub is led by AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear, a world-leading professional services and project management company.
Additional Quotes from Pacific Northwest Leaders:
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee: “Congratulations to the PNWH2 on officially launching into phase one of our exciting partnership with DOE to develop the hydrogen market in the Pacific Northwest. I look forward to seeing how this effort helps us decarbonize transportation and industrial sectors and create good-paying jobs for Washington workers and families for decades to come. This is exactly what we have been working for here in Washington state over the last 12 years and the PNWH2 is among the leaders in this effort.”
- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek: “Mitigating climate change requires enormous effort and prioritization of resources. It takes a multi-state approach to get things done, like the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub,” Oregon Governor Kotek said. “Today’s announcement marks an exciting step forward in reaching our collective goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a clean energy future. Thank you to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership in bringing our regional hydrogen hub to life.”
- Senator Patty Murray (D-WA): “The Pacific Northwest is an undisputed leader in the clean energy economy, and PNWH2’s designation as a Hydrogen Hub—thanks to funding I helped to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—will mean $1 billion in federal funding matched with billions more in private investment. PNWH2 is going to speed up our decarbonization efforts and the transition to a clean energy economy and today’s launch of Phase 1 marks a huge step forward in making this clean hydrogen ecosystem a reality. I’m thrilled to be a partner in this fight with PNWH2 and can’t wait to see the incredible impact they have on our region.”
The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association will host a webinar alongside its partners to share additional information and answer questions about the Hub’s plans for Phase 1 on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 11 a.m. PT. To register, please click here.
Media Contact:
Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association
[email protected]