Hydrogen Permitting Simplification Act introduced by Newhouse

For federal hydrogen programs utilizing zero-carbon emission sources, the hydrogen permitting process would be streamlined under legislation introduced recently by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA).

“Amidst soaring energy costs, ensuring we utilize all of the resources available to us is imperative,” Rep. Newhouse said last week. “I am a strong supporter of hydrogen energy technologies and am proud to introduce this legislation, which will remove regulatory roadblocks and help us deploy these technologies more efficiently, more affordably and more responsibly than ever before.”

The Hydrogen Permitting Simplification Act, H.R. 8117, which Rep. Newhouse cosponsored on June 16 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), would exempt certain federal hydrogen programs from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, according to the text of the bill, which says no major federal action, including any major federal action with respect to the production of hydrogen from nuclear, solar, wind, or geothermal energy sources, would be subject to the act’s requirements.

H.R. 8117 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.

In Rep. Newhouse’s home state, there are several innovative hydrogen energy research projects underway in central Washington, including at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the AeroTEC site at Moses Lake, the Wells Hydroelectric Project on the Columbia River, and collaboration between Ballard Power Systems in Quincy, Wash., with Microsoft and Caterpillar, according to the congressman’s staff.

“Central Washington is blessed to have the resources to pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy,” said Rep. Newhouse. “And hydrogen, while new to the mix, is already playing an integral role in helping supplement our energy industry while reducing our carbon emissions.”