U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Aug. 3 introduced bipartisan legislation to spur a clean hydrogen economy based on the faster development of clean hydrogen technologies.
“Providing funding for fuel cell and hydrogen technology paves the way for our nation’s clean energy future,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “We must commit to investing in clean energy technologies to reduce our carbon emissions while creating new American job opportunities.”
The Clean Hydrogen Energy Act, H.R. 4909, which Rep. Fitzpatrick cosponsored with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), would accelerate research, development, demonstration, and deployment of hydrogen from clean energy sources, according to the text of the bill.
“Now is the time to pass this much-needed legislation, which advances the production, distribution, and storage of clean hydrogen,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.
If enacted, H.R. 4909 would call for investments in several programs to develop the clean hydrogen economy, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s staff, such as a newly created hydrogen R&D program that would be focused on decreasing costs for all sources of hydrogen production, developing the transportation and storage of hydrogen, and for multiple end uses.
H.R. 4909 also would call for the development of four hydrogen “hubs” that would enable coordination of projects to build out hydrogen production, storage, and use facilities. The hubs would be located in geographically diverse areas and would be focused on the end uses of power generation, transportation, home and commercial heating, and industry, according to the bill summary.
Additionally, among other provisions, H.R. 4909 would direct the U.S. Energy Secretary to create a technologically and economically feasible national strategy and roadmap to facilitate wide-scale production, processing, delivery, storage, and use of clean hydrogen in the United States, the summary says.
“In the fight against climate change, hydrogen has the potential to be the best tool we have,” said Rep. Doyle. “Hydrogen can decarbonize transportation, power generation, and the industrial sector all while utilizing existing infrastructure and fuel supplies.”
The measure is under consideration in the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.