In the USA, the Biden-Harris administration is driving forward the industrial transformation of the energy industry with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In July 2024, California officially became the first US state to establish a clean, renewable hydrogen center. Now, the multi-billion dollar agreement to build and expand an H2 infrastructure in California has been officially celebrated.
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, was joined by other state and federal politicians such as the US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, at the event to launch the hydrogen hub. State-of-the-art hydrogen-powered transportation projects in Oakland were showcased, demonstrating what has already been accomplished in California and what is still on the agenda as part of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) Renewable Hydrogen Hub.
California is becoming the engine of the hydrogen economy in the USA
As part of the event, the group led by Governor Gavin Newsom and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled on the hydrogen-powered ferry “Sea Change” and then on hydrogen-powered electric buses from AC Transit and SamTrans to the True Zero Hydrogen Fuel Station, which can power 200 Class 8 trucks daily. Eight trucks currently serving the California market were on display, including heavy-duty hydrogen-powered electric trucks from Hyundai, Hyzon, Nikola, Toyota and a hydrogen-powered electric garbage truck developed through a partnership between New Way Trucks and Hyzon and operated by Recology in San Francisco.
“California is building more, faster to accelerate clean energy projects, cut pollution, and deliver good jobs – and we’re doing it at a scale unmatched in America. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, our first-in-the-nation hydrogen hub is quickly becoming reality,” Governor Gavin Newsom said at the ceremonial launch.
“Today’s launch marks a transformative moment for California’s clean energy future. ARCHES is excited and honored to accelerate California’s hydrogen journey, driving innovative projects that will not only establish a thriving clean hydrogen ecosystem but also enable us to decarbonize all sectors of the economy while creating lasting economic, air quality, and environmental benefits for all Californians,” added Angelina Galiteva, CEO of ARCHES at the event.
ARCHES: further projects across the entire H2 value chain in the pipeline
The $12.6 billion agreement signed between ARCHES and the Department of Energy in July includes up to $1.2 billion in federal funding and $11.4 billion from public and private match funds. ARCHES is the first initiative in the US to sign such an agreement with the Department of Energy.
