PNW hydrogen hub adds $300M in projects pending DOE review

The Pacific Northwest hydrogen hub will add $300 million in projects, subject to the Department of Energy reviewing the feasibility of the planned projects. The DOE recently announced it would be reassessing several key projects that are to receive federal funding. The move aims to align with the Donald Trump administration’s new approach to the energy sector, with the hydrogen sector in particular facing heavy criticism from the federal government. US West Coast hubs are determined to continue to promote the hydrogen sector by signing up several new partners.

The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub has approved eight new projects that bring significant investments to the sector

The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, or PNWH2 for short, has approved eight new projects to join the partnership stretching across Washington, Oregon, and Montana, which could have a significant impact on the hydrogen sector in the United States. The proposed hub will bring in $300 million in federal funds to the partnership and could be a vital stepping stone for the hydrogen sector in the United States.

The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act garnered bipartisan support when it was unveiled during the Biden administration. The act aimed to allocate nearly $7bn in government funding to several hubs in the hydrogen sector. Several of those hubs received their first tranche of federal funding, but the rest of the stakeholders have concerns over the Trump administration’s plans to reassess the sector and possibly withhold funding.

Some have speculated that the Trump policies are simply political cannon fodder for the President

When Donald Trump won his second term in office, on day one, he announced that his government would put a halt to clean energy spending pending DOE review. That new approach to the renewable energy sector has many speculating that Trump is merely using this as cannon fodder, as most of the hubs involved are in Democratic states.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated earlier this year that the review process was due to wrap up by the end of this summer, and dismissed speculations that the DOE was considering cutting funding to hubs focused on producing renewable hydrogen. PNWH2 has stated that it received $27.5 million in its first disbursement from the federal government. But that funding may be in danger if Trump gets his way. The hydrogen sector has seen recent discoveries that could propel it towards a future where it is the dominant fuel source in the United States.

“The success of this project is contingent on regulatory and financial incentive certainty, timely approvals, and a clear and predictable path forward from government and commercial partners,”  – Andrea McNamara Doyle, Washington state external affairs manager for AltaGas

“We have several new projects in the pipeline that we’re excited to share more on soon. PNWH2 continues to evaluate additional project interest and remains focused on supporting a broad, resilient regional hydrogen ecosystem with the potential to deliver lasting economic value to Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest.” – Kaitlin Sheppard, Northwest hydrogen hub

Can the hydrogen sector recover from the apparent cuts coming from the federal government

The news of the $300 million in federal funding is a welcome sign that some in the US government have not given up on the potential benefits that hydrogen offers the United States and the world. However, if the Trump administration follows through with its threats of reassessing the federal funding for the sector, one could speculate that the government could halt and possibly freeze any further funding allocated for the renewable energy sector. The tons of hydrogen waiting to be unearthed in the United States might have to wait until the next administration to finally become the fuel of tomorrow.