Governor Hochul Announces Maine and Rhode Island Join Multi-State Agreement to Propose a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Maine and Rhode Island have signed on to a New York-led multi-state agreement, joining with Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey to develop a proposal to become one of at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The coalition of six states and now more than 60 clean hydrogen ecosystem partners are laying the groundwork for a proposal for the United States Department of Energy funding opportunity anticipated to be announced in September or October with up to $8 billion in total funding available. Today's announcement advances each State's leadership in clean hydrogen infrastructure deployment and supports New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050.

"New York is pleased to welcome Maine and Rhode Island to this diverse and dynamic group of partners as we continue our work to develop and implement a vision for a regional clean hydrogen hub that advances our shared climate goals," Governor Hochul said. "Building a robust and connected clean hydrogen market across the northeast will provide a game-changing clean energy alternative that will transform our ability to meet our shared climate goals while advancing 21st century innovation and stimulating strong economic growth throughout the region."

Since the initial announcement in March, New York has continued to add strategic partners that now include 14 private sector industry leaders, 12 utilities, 20 hydrogen technology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), 10 universities, seven non-profits, five other states, two transportation companies and three state agencies. New York will continue to engage with states and entities who are interested in joining, so as to further solidify the region as a viable clean hydrogen hub.

In addition to Maine and Rhode Island, new partners include:

• Advent Technologies
• Air Liquide
• Ambient Fuels
• Amogy, Inc.
• Avangrid, Inc. 
• Charbone Hydrogen Corporation
• Connecticut Green Bank
• Constellation Energy Generation, LLC 
• Edgewise Energy
• EDP Renewables North America
• Equinor
• Eversource Energy
• General Electric Co.
• H2/HPA Sonics
• Holcim US
• Hyzon Motors Inc.
• Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc.
• Linde
• National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation
• Nel Hydrogen
• New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition
• NECEC (Northeast Clean Energy Council and NECEC Institute)
• Northville Industries Corp.
• NovoHydrogen, Inc.
• Ørsted
• Pratt & Whitney
• Precision Combustion, Inc.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rhode Island Energy
• Siena College
• Skyre, Inc.
• Peaks Renewables and Summit Utilities, Inc.
• University of Connecticut

Consortium partners have committed to collaborate with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), and Empire State Development (ESD) on proposal development to advance clean hydrogen projects. Partnering states will also coordinate with their respective state entities to help align the consortium's efforts with each state's climate and clean energy goals. These include Connecticut's Global Warming Solutions Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, Massachusetts' goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, New Jersey's Global Warming Response Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, Maine's statutory goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 and Rhode Island's commitment to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2033.

The New York Climate Action Council Draft Scoping Plan, released in December 2021, identifies low-carbon fuels such as clean hydrogen as an important component of a strategy to achieve the goals of the Climate Act in sectors that are challenging to electrify, such as transportation and heavy industry.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "With the addition of Maine, Rhode Island, and strategic partners representing education, industry, utilities, and the non-profit sector, we have further strengthened an already strong and diverse group of partners representing the entire value chain from innovation to end use. Together, we are positioning the region as a leader in clean hydrogen as we decarbonize and work toward achieving a zero-emission economy powered by clean renewable energy."

New York Power Authority Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, "This expanded collaboration with Maine, Rhode Island and other like-minded partners will significantly boost the value of our clean hydrogen hub proposal and make the Northeast a stronger, more multi-faceted contender for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy. Innovative technologies are showing the potential of green hydrogen as a fossil fuel alternative and the time is right to take a deeper dive into the many opportunities that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, benefit the workforce and help build a clean energy economy."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York's clean energy goals are key to the green economy we are building for a sustainable future. Our continued leadership in the creation of a regional clean hydrogen hub is made even stronger by the states and strategic partners who have joined us in developing a proposal that will provide access to federal funding and future opportunity."

With the execution of these agreements, the partners will work together to:

• Define the shared vision and plans for the regional clean hydrogen hub that can advance safe clean hydrogen energy innovation and investment to address climate change, while improving the health, resiliency, and economic development of the region's residents.
• Advance a Hub proposal that makes climate and environmental justice central to its strategy, which will deliver opportunities and improved quality of life to under resourced areas across the region.
• Perform research and analysis necessary to support the hub proposal and align on approach to quantifying greenhouse gas emissions reductions as a result of deploying this technology.
• Develop a framework to ensure the ecosystem for innovation, production, infrastructure, and related workforce development is shared across all partner states.
• Support environmentally responsible opportunities to develop clean hydrogen, in accordance with participating states' policies.

The coalition will continue to focus on the integration of renewables - such as onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, and solar PV - and nuclear power into clean hydrogen production, and the evaluation of clean hydrogen for use in transportation, including for medium and heavy- duty vehicles, heavy industry, and power generation applications or other appropriate uses consistent with decarbonization efforts.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said, "Rhode Island is on track to become the first state in the country to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2033, as well as achieve a net-zero reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, the fight against climate change hinges on interstate and international collaboration. I am proud to have Rhode Island join the New York-led Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub as we explore the amazing potential that hydrogen offers, not only as an additional clean energy resource, with broad applications across our transportation and industrial sectors, but also by adding new jobs to our economy."

Maine Governor's Energy Office Director Dan Burgess said, "Clean hydrogen is an exciting technology with potential for economic growth that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. We look forward to working with regional partners to advance opportunities for clean hydrogen, maximize the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and help our state protect our environment and economy from the impacts of the climate crisis."

Advent Technologies Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Vasilis Gregoriou commented, "We are excited to join this major industrial partnership at a time of significant momentum for America's transition to clean energy technologies. All of us at Advent embrace the belief that the world can decarbonize faster by adopting clean hydrogen and fuel cells to replace conventional and polluting energy sources that use fossil fuels. This new partnership has filled us with enthusiasm and ambition about the future and the potential for a cleaner America. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the consortium partners, as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Power Authority, and Empire State Development."

Equinor Wind US President Siri Espedal Kindem said, "Equinor is excited to join this partnership led by Governor Hochul and NYSERDA to create a hydrogen hub that will help transition major industries towards greener technologies while creating opportunities for regional businesses. As an effective and environmentally-friendly energy carrier, hydrogen will make a key contribution to sustainable development of energy. This important effort will help unlock technology that will put the region at the forefront of the hydrogen economy and play a leading role in meeting New York's renewable energy goals."

Hyzon Motors President and Interim CEO Parker Meeks said, "The coalition between states and industry members along all steps of the clean hydrogen value chain not only strengthens the New York-led collaborative funding proposal, but also enables planning for the long-term growth of the clean hydrogen ecosystem in the Northeast. This collaboration is especially crucial in creating the fueling infrastructure required to decarbonize heavy-duty transport along the region's major freight corridors."

Rhode Island Energy Vice President of gas operations Michele Leone said, "As Rhode Island's leading energy provider, we are excited to join this effort to help identify and develop the promise clean hydrogen has for our clean energy future. We are committed to helping the state and our regional partners reach our shared clean energy targets and this initiative will be a critical tool in reaching them."

UConn's interim Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Dr. Pamir Alpay said, "The need for clean and renewable energy is only going to grow and UConn takes pride in its extensive research activities and educational pursuits into clean hydrogen and fuel cells. From the top of our leadership, UConn has made clean, renewable energy a primary research priority, as evident by our award-winning faculty, regional and global industrial partnerships, and state-of-the-art facilities on our campuses. Our University is committed to answering the challenges that clean hydrogen technology presents and preparing new generations of Connecticut students for careers in the field."

Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card said, "In order to achieve ambitious climate goals, such as reaching Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050, we must continue regional cooperation. Combining the exploration and deployment of new technologies and renewable energy sources with stronger collaboration helps all partners make meaningful, sustainable progress towards mitigating the effects of climate change, and we welcome the State of Maine and State of Rhode Island into this multistate agreement."

Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said, "DEEP is excited to add Maine and Rhode Island to the regional hydrogen hub application team. Once again, likewe've done with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the northeast is leading the way in effective collaboration to address climate change and harmful air pollution. I am confident the hard work will bring great benefits to Connecticut and the entire region by leveraging federal funding to invest in clean hydrogen technology, make significant reductions in carbon emissions, and continue to build Connecticut's clean energy economy in an equitable manner."

The Governor's Office of Clean Energy and the Green Economy Director Jane Cohen said, "Under Governor Murphy's leadership, New Jersey's climate policies are focused on seeding clean energy technology innovation and growing our state's green economy, resulting in the deployment of over 4,000 MW of solar and significant progress in offshore wind development. We're pleased to welcome Rhode Island and Maine to this regional collaboration and look forward to working with our state and MOU partners to develop a strong proposal for funding."

In June 2022, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced that an initial Clean Hydrogen Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) would be issued in September or October 2022 with an anticipated $6-7 billion in funding available. This initial funding is anticipated to support 6-10 clean hydrogen hubs and be awarded some time in 2023; another $1-2 billion may be made available for future FOA launches or other supporting activities. Proposals may be awarded up to a maximum of $1.25 billion.

For more information on hydrogen activities in New York State, please visit NYSERDA's website.