Environment High energy costs, delayed tax credit pose hurdles for PNW hydrogen hub

The multi-billion plan to build out clean hydrogen production and distribution facilities across the Pacific Northwest is getting dealt wild cards out of the gate, with a key project in southwest Washington stalled, uncertainty over a tax credit that’s supposed to catalyze the upstart industry, and a lack of affordable renewable electricity.

Even so, backers of the Pacific Northwest Clean Hydrogen Hub are pressing ahead with confidence that things will pan out. New details are emerging about hub components, including plans to fuel heavy-duty trucks and clean up a cement plant in eastern Oregon with a long history of air pollution.

“Over the next few years, we are going to continue to see changes…we’re going to see this kind of bumpy takeoff,” said Chris Green, president of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, the hub’s ringleader. “But I still believe vehemently that this is all going to work. There is a lot invested here. There is a lot of intent and desire.”

Hydrogen proponents view it as a key source of clean energy to help reduce climate-warming emissions from tough-to-electrify sectors. The regional hydrogen hub – a public-private partnership championed by the Biden administration and state governors – promised to kickstart wider adoption of the fuel here in the Northwest.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/12/high-energy-costs-delayed-tax-credit-pose-hurdles-for-pnw-hydrogen-hub/