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Pacific NW regional hydrogen hub “would not happen without hydropower”

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The up to $1 billion award to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNW H2) provided by the U.S. Department of Energy “would not happen without hydropower,” said Washington State Senator Mark Schoesler.

Schoesler (R-Ritzville) serves the 9th Legislative District, which includes the four lower Snake River dams. He issued a statement after the recent announcement by DOE providing $7 billion in federal funding to seven regional clean hydrogen hubs. This initiative is aimed at accelerating the commercial-scale deployment of clean hydrogen and driving down its cost. The seven hubs are located around the U.S. and aim to jumpstart a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers and connective infrastructure. Each hub will include clean hydrogen production, storage, delivery and end-use components.

The H2Hubs are expected to collectively produce 3 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, reaching nearly a third of the 2030 U.S. production target and lowering emissions from these industrial sectors that represent 30% of total U.S. carbon emissions.

The PNW H2 – which was awarded up to $1 billion — includes Washington, Oregon and Montana and plans to produce clean hydrogen exclusively via electrolysis. A total of eight hydrogen production sites will be established across the three states. The hub believes its widescale use of electrolyzers will drive down the costs for this equipment.

Association partners include the Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE) Network, Renewable Hydrogen Alliance (RHA), Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance, Washington State University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and many private corporations, utilities and ports.

“This would not happen without hydropower, Schoesler said. “Our state has a strong and reliable hydropower system that provides inexpensive electric power and allows water to be stored behind dams – with water being needed for producing hydrogen.  I hope the people advocating for this new hydrogen production project in our state will recognize and respect the role that our dams and hydropower system played in Washington being part of this regional hydrogen hub.”

Other selected projects are:

  • Appalachian Hydrogen Hub that includes West Virginia, Ohio , Kentucky and Pennsylvania
  • California Hydrogen Hub
  • Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub centered in the Houston, Texas region
  • Heartland Hydrogen Hub that includes Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota
  • Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub that includes Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey
  • Midwest Hydrogen Hub that includes Illinois, Indiana and Michigan

DOE’s $7 billion investment in the hubs will be met by awardees’ combined cost share of more than $40 billion.