U.S. Department of Energy announced an $8 billion program to develop clean hydrogen hubs across the nation.
According to a June 6 DOE news release, the regional hydrogen hubs will "jumpstart America's clean hydrogen economy" and bring with it good-paying jobs and help President Joe Biden's administration's goal of a 100% clean electricity grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
"Hydrogen energy has the power to slash emissions from multiple carbon-intensive sectors and open a world of economic opportunity to clean energy businesses and workers across the country," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in the news release. "These hydrogen hubs will make significant progress toward President Biden’s vision for a resilient grid that is powered by clean energy and built by American workers."
Hydrogen energy use potentially could decarbonize multiple economic sectors, including steel manufacturing and heavy-duty transportation and set up a future powered by clean energy resources, according to the news release.
"Today, the U.S. produces about 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, compared to approximately 90 million tons produced per year globally," the news release said. "While most of the hydrogen produced in the U.S. comes from natural gas through steam methane reforming, electrolysis technology – which uses electricity to produce hydrogen from water – is an emerging pathway with dozens of installations across the country."
That emerging technology could produce hydrogen from electricity produced by renewable energy, such as solar, wind and from nuclear power, according to the news release.
"We just announced our intent to provide $8B to develop at least 4 regional clean hydrogen hubs throughout the U.S. that will build grid resiliency, create good-paying jobs and support our transition to a clean energy economy," the Department said in a June 6 Twitter post.
