The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, a multi-state nonprofit organization supported by Washington State University and focused on creating a robust network of clean hydrogen suppliers and end-users in the Pacific Northwest, has received Phase 1 award status from the U.S. Department of Energy.
As part of the designation announced Wednesday, it 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 encompass initial planning, permitting, and analysis activities to ensure that the overall hub concept is technologically and financially viable, with input from relevant local stakeholders.
Known by the acronym PNWH2, the association is one of the first U.S. Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to move into Phase 1.
“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.”
WSU, with support from its Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewably Generated E-Fuels, 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, then operate and maintain the Hub’s hydrogen projects.
The full announcement can be found on the PNWH2 website, with additional project and award details available from the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
