The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2), a multi-state nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a robust network of clean hydrogen suppliers and end-users in the Pacific Northwest, announced today that it has received Phase 1 award status from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). PNWH2 is among the first U.S. Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to advance to Phase 1.
As part of this designation, PNWH2 will receive an initial amount of up to $27.5 million from a potential future $1 billion in federal funding, as outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Phase 1 will involve initial planning, permitting, and analysis activities to ensure the overall Hub concept is technologically and financially viable, with input from relevant local stakeholders.
“Today marks an important step for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and is the culmination of many months of discussions, planning, and negotiations across our partners, stakeholders, and community members,” said Chris Green, President of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association. “We are excited to embark on Phase 1 and lead the way in building a new clean energy commodity in the U.S. that will benefit generations of families throughout the region.”
Together with its partners, PNWH2 is establishing the Pacific Northwest as a national benchmark for successful low-carbon intensity and economically viable green hydrogen production. The PNWH2 Hub expects to consist of eight nodes across Washington, Oregon, and Montana, leveraging the region’s innovative technology and abundant renewable energy to address the hardest-to-abate end-users, such as public transit, agricultural products, medium and heavy-duty transport, and the electric power industry.
Washington State University (WSU), with support from its Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE), will oversee the Community Benefits Plan for the PNWH2 Hub in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative. PNWH2 is committed to engaging communities to define and quantify benefits, avoid disproportionate burdens, and closely track and adjust to ensure that at least 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. These benefits will include the creation of more than 10,000 quality jobs and the development of STEM-based education programs from K-12 through college to ensure a pipeline of trained and qualified workers to build, operate, and maintain the Hub’s hydrogen projects. Project management for the PNWH2 Hub is led by AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear, a world-leading professional services and project management company.
