The States of New York, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts today announced the submission of the group’s proposal for a Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub to the U.S. Department of Energy to compete for a $1.25 billion share of the $8 billion in federal hydrogen hub funding available as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Together with the federal portion, the proposal represents a $3.62 billion investment and includes over one dozen projects across seven Northeast states that advance clean electrolytic hydrogen production, consumption, and infrastructure projects, for hard to decarbonize sectors, including transportation and heavy industry, among others. Today’s announcement supports each state’s climate and clean energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy across all sectors of the economy.
«As a leader on climate action and founding partner of the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, New York State is leading the way in establishing a connected and sustainable hydrogen industry that will bring jobs and economic development to the region,» Governor Hochul said. «We are ready to work with our state partners and local communities to capitalize on federal funding and ensure this program benefits the entire region while becoming part of a connected hydrogen hub network nationwide and reaching our ambitious climate goals.»
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said, «This is a momentous day for the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, and I’m thrilled with the compelling application we made to the U.S. DOE. The public-private partners in our hydrogen ecosystem are worldwide leaders in business innovation, and climate leadership. I thank them for the collective effort getting us to this point, and I look forward to a favorable decision from the DOE and the good-paying, local jobs and many other community benefits that will result.»
Maine Governor Janet Mills said, «I am excited about the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub’s application to the U.S. Department of Energy. My Administration looks forward to collaborating with public and private partners to explore the potential of clean hydrogen to reduce emissions and generate economic growth.»
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said, «With this proposal, we have a unique opportunity to leverage substantial federal funding to begin building a market for clean hydrogen that will address some of our most difficult to decarbonize sectors. The Northeast Hydrogen Hub will create opportunity, prioritize equity, and enable significant progress toward our ambitious climate requirements. I look forward to working with this impressive coalition of state leaders and partners in the private sectors to bring economic growth and industry to the region.»
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said, «The submission of this game-changing proposal marks a significant milestone toward the cultivation of a clean energy economy not just in New Jersey, but across our region. Just as importantly, it further demonstrates the synergy between federal and state governments united by their belief in the importance of innovative climate action. By securing funding through the Biden Administration’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, New Jersey and its regional partners will advance clean hydrogen production and consumption, especially in industries that significantly contribute to GHG emissions and pollution in our local communities.»
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said, «Rhode Island’s 2021 Act on Climate sets an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050. To make this future a reality, Rhode Island must rely upon diverse sources of clean energy, particularly for hard-to-decarbonize industries. We are proud partners in this interstate effort to create a clean hydrogen infrastructure that will help New England lead the fight against climate change.»
Vermont Department of Public Service Commissioner June E. Tierney said, «Vermont is proud to be a partner in this innovative and forward-looking proposal. Hydrogen technology is part of a multi-pronged approach to tackling climate change. We look forward to collaborating with other northeastern states toward a clean energy future.»
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, «From Western New York to Rochester to Albany, and the North Country to Long Island, New York can lead the nation in clean-hydrogen energy production and has all the right ingredients to lead the nation’s first ever Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub to power America’s clean-energy future. Our bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $9.5 billion to expand the clean hydrogen industry and further reduce greenhouse gasses; A New York-centric North East Regional Clean Hydrogen hub would mean thousands of new, good-paying clean-energy jobs in communities that need it most, from Maine to New Jersey and with New York at its heart. New York’s powerhouse workforce, top tier research institutions, and easy access to a diverse array of renewable energy resources that can power green hydrogen production makes it uniquely suited to supercharge our efforts to become a global leader in clean-hydrogen production. Clean, green hydrogen has the potential to power our fight against climate change, and you can be assured I will be using all my clout as majority leader to elevate this project for the Department of Energy, and make sure it delivers for all New York communities.»
Representative Brian Higgins said, «Creating a sustainable future means investing in resources to help our communities transition away from fossil fuels. Federal hydrogen hub funding, included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, represents a long-term investment that will create jobs, bolster economic development, and facilitate decarbonization. We urge the U.S. Department of Energy to harness the potential of Western New York and all communities in the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub by supporting this worthy proposal.»
Representative Paul Tonko said, «Clean hydrogen will play a critical role in developing our clean energy future, particularly in greening difficult to decarbonize sectors like heavy-duty transit. I worked hard to advance clean energy provisions under our Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and am thrilled to see our region taking advantage of this crucial funding opportunity. Following this submission, I look forward to continuing to push for federal action that empowers our state and nation to be leaders in the clean energy transition.»
Representative Hakeem Jeffries said, «Under the leadership of President Biden, House Democrats and Governor Hochul, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been delivering real and transformational change to New York. As we continue to confront the climate crisis, I applaud Governor Hochul for her work to ensure that New York can be a clean energy hub for the nation. I look forward to working with federal and state partners to invest in our clean energy economy to lower costs, create good-paying jobs and expand economic opportunity in every zip code.»
Representative Joe Morelle said, «New York has long been a leader in fighting the climate crisis. Advancing our role as a regional hydrogen hub is a key part not only of reversing the effects of climate change, but also growing our clean energy economy. I’m proud to support these efforts and am grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued support and leadership as we work to invest in a more sustainable future.»
Representative Ritche Torres said, «New York’s strategy for tackling the climate crisis is leading the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a clean energy economy across all sectors in a way that creates good-paying jobs and supports disadvantaged communities. But there is power in numbers – and it’s hard to ignore that an entire region of the country has come together in a coordinated, multi-state effort to try and secure crucial federal investments to become a national hub for clean hydrogen. I’m grateful to everyone involved in this effort for submitting a competitive, forward-thinking proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy – one that will advance our region’s collective clean energy goals and support more than a dozen projects in hard to decarbonize sectors.»
Representative Nick Langworthy said, «As part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, I’m pleased to join Governor Hochul in supporting the state’s efforts to bring this infrastructure funding to New York. New York has a unique ability to support a diverse energy portfolio and adding a hydrogen hub that several Western New York and Southern Tier companies will partner in will be a benefit to our region.»
Representative Brandon Williams said, «As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy, I look forward to directing DOE research funding into Hydrogen research and other critical efforts for securing our energy future.»
The proposal will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Energy with awarded proposals designated one of the nation’s regional clean hydrogen hubs. Awards are anticipated to be announced in fall 2023.
Since the launch of the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (NE Hub) in March 2022, six states and more than 100 partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) joining the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to collaborate in developing the proposal submitted. The NE Hub partnership – which is committed to demonstrating and capitalizing on the economic and decarbonization opportunities presented by clean hydrogen – initially included the States of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 40 partners active in the development and deployment of clean hydrogen as an important component of the broader energy transition. The partnership expanded in August 2022 to include the states of Rhode Island, Maine, and over 25 additional hydrogen ecosystem partners. In February 2023, the partnership grew to more than 100 partners, with Vermont also joining.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA said, «The submission of the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub proposal to the Department of Energy is the culmination of more than a year of collaborative work between New York, our six state partners, and more than 100 hydrogen ecosystem partners. We are proud to have played a critical role in building this robust and diverse team of partners and excited to work together to build a hydrogen ecosystem that supports the production and use of this new resource and its potential deployment for challenging to decarbonize sectors as part of a just and equitable clean energy transition.»
New York Power Authority Acting President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, «The IRA funding would significantly reduce the cost of producing hydrogen in New York, allowing the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub to greatly accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen throughout the region. New York will expand its quickly growing clean energy economy—acting as a model for the rest of the country—by reducing its carbon footprint and creating more green jobs.»
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, «We are proud to be a part of this multi-state proposal for a Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, one that will fuel New York State’s ambitious climate goals and strengthen our green economy. This proposal represents partnership and progress as we work together to create a clean energy ecosystem that will also create jobs and opportunities for New Yorkers.»
Adam Zurofsky, Interim Director of the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub said, «The Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub was initiated to explore and capitalize on the opportunities clean hydrogen presents to advance critical priorities such as decarbonization, economic development, and environmental justice. Today’s proposal reflects the ability of our region to cooperate to build a hydrogen ecosystem that can realize those opportunities and demonstrate the benefits of clean hydrogen beyond our borders. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking federal program and look forward to making the vision of the Northeast Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub a reality.»
This coordinated, multi-state strategy is designed to create an ecosystem that connects hydrogen producers and users and their associated safety experts, technology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the research and development community, workforce organizations, and labor representatives, for the collective purpose of advancing clean hydrogen projects for inclusion in the proposal consistent with the following guiding principles:
- Prioritization of clean electrolytic hydrogen production – hydrogen made without creating greenhouse gas emissions using clean electricity and water;
- Utilization of clean hydrogen as a complement to electrification efforts by focusing on hard-to-electrify sectors of the economy;
- Critical focus on community engagement, safety, climate, environmental justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility;
- Realize the unique opportunity to grow the clean energy workforce, focusing not only on educating and training new, underrepresented, and dislocated workers, but also leveraging existing specialized and skilled workers to play a critical role in building the infrastructure needed for a sustainable clean hydrogen ecosystem as part of the clean energy transition;
- Leverage – and grow- Northeast’s rich innovation ecosystem at scale; and
- Collaboration on critical policy initiatives and incentives.
In accordance with these guiding principles, the NE Hub projects include clean electrolytic hydrogen production for use in transportation, high-temp industrial thermal, and communal utilities for heat which are each representative of hard-to-decarbonize sectors. The projects included in the proposal are proposed to be sited to form a regional hub of integrated projects across states collectively producing and utilizing clean hydrogen, advancing a vision that enables a long-term sustainable clean hydrogen industry in the northeast region, and establishing strategic connections to other clean hydrogen hubs.
If selected for an award by the Department of Energy, the projects within the NE Hub will complete a rigorous series of four phases in development over the course of 10-12 years, with each subsequent phase requiring completion of milestones before projects move forward in the process, including technical data and analysis, community engagement and impacts, engineering, permitting and safety, business development and management, procurement, and construction and operations.
If selected, management and oversight of this endeavor across seven states will be accomplished through close coordination and collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy, NYSERDA as the prime awardee, the state partners, and sub-recipient project partners who will be the organizations implementing work in communities across the region.
While the U.S. Department of Energy completes the application review process, the full list of projects, locations, and organizations included within the NE Hub proposal will not be made public.
New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York’s unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.8 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution interventions and combat climate change.