On September 13, 2022, Oregon and Washington shared their intent to advance the Northwest as a hub for clean hydrogen. Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Energy and Washington Department of Commerce joined the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association which includes representatives from Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Amazon, BP America, Sierra Club, and several labor unions. The partnership officially began in July 2022 and Oregon Department of Energy Director, Janine Brenner, was voted in as Vice Chair of the Board in August 2022. The group will develop a plan for a regional clean hydrogen hub that will put them into consideration for some of the $8 billion in federal funds that will be available through the U.S. Department of Energy from the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA) for boosting hydrogen production across the country. Some of the benefits the region would bring include their large renewable electricity portfolio, low power rates, and abundant fresh water. According to the director of the Oregon Department of Energy, Janine Brenner, “Getting to 90% decarbonization of the grid is feasible. If you want to get that last 10 or 15 or 20%, you need options that include hydrogen”.
For more information on the efforts to build out a green hydrogen economy in the Northwest click here.