Biden administration announces $7 billion for the development of seven hydrogen hubs

The Biden administration announced Friday the seven U.S. hydrogen hubs that will share a total $7 billion in federal funds to develop and implement their projects.

The winners were selected from among 79 proposals across the country.

The funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure law. If all the projects are built, they could produce as much as 3 million metric tons of hydrogen.

Hydrogen doesn’t produce carbon dioxide emissions when it’s burned. The administration is hoping that a large supply of the gas could be used to address emissions in energy-intensive sectors of the economy, including industrial processes and heavy-duty transportation.

“With this historic investment, the Biden-Harris Administration is laying the foundation for a new, American-led industry that will propel the global clean energy transition while creating high quality jobs and delivering healthier communities in every pocket of the nation,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said.

The New York Times reports the Energy Department will release some of the funding in initial grants for the awardees to develop more detailed proposals.

The department will review those proposals for feasibility and determine whether more funding for the project is warranted.

The seven initial recipients are:

• Appalachian Hydrogen Hub, a proposal developed by West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
• California Hydrogen Hub, to produce hydrogen for public transportation, heavy-duty trucking and port operations.
• Heartland Hydrogen Hub, by Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to use hydrogen in electricity generation, space heating and fertilizer production.
• Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub, by Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
• Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, by Texas
• Midwest Hydrogen Hub, proposed by Illinois, Indiana and Michigan for heavy industry, heavy-duty transportation, power generation, refining and aviation fuel.
• Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, proposed by Montana, Oregon and Washington for hydroelectric and other low-carbon sources of power