Green Hydrogen Legislation Passes In Olympia

Washington-Made (Ever)green Hydrogen Addresses Largest Sources of Climate Pollution, Advances Environmental Justice, and Helps Heavy Industry Become Cleaner More Affordably 

Vote Also Shows Growing Momentum for Public-Private Partnership to Compete for Billions in Federal Funding for Washington State-Based Clean Hydrogen Hub

OLYMPIA, WA - The Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance (WGHA) (www.wagreenhydrogen.com), a statewide advocacy group for Washington State’s fast-growing green hydrogen industry, today applauded the bipartisan passage of SB 5910, legislation that would grow Washington State’s green hydrogen economy, and help families and and businesses benefit from an affordable, Washington-made, zero-carbon fuel source. The legislation was approved in a 49-0 vote in the Senate on February 12 and then by a 96-2 vote in the House on March 7, followed by a unanimous concurrence vote in the Senate on March 9.

The legislation would accelerate the availability and use of (Ever)green hydrogen by:

●      Authorizing municipal utilities and public utility districts to produce, use, sell, and distribute renewable and green electrolytic hydrogen (together both terms describe types of non-fossil fuel based hydrogen);

●      Establishing the statewide Office of Renewable Fuels; 

●      Extending sales and use and leasehold excise tax exemptions for green electrolytic hydrogen to those exemptions already provided to renewable hydrogen;

●      Authorizing the director of the Department of Commerce to support an application by a public private partnership entity for federal funding, potentially up to $1 billion, to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub.

●      Requiring consultation with federally recognized Tribes and include communities across the state, including overburdened communities, in the Hydrogen Hub application process; and,

●      Requesting consultation with the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals regarding fire and other safety standards adopted by the United States Department of Energy and recognized national and international fire and safety code development authorities regarding renewable fuels and green electrolytic hydrogen.

“The strong, bipartisan support for this legislation shows our leaders recognize the opportunity for our climate, air, water, and economy with evergreen hydrogen made right here in Washington. It also shows the broad support in Olympia for a state focus on collaborative public-private partnership in the competition to be a regional clean energy hub under the U.S. Department of Energy,” said Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance Executive Director Tim Zenk. “We are grateful to Senators Carlyle and Hawkins for their bipartisan sponsorship of the legislation and want to thank Representatives Ramel, Abbarno, Dye, and Orcutt for bipartisan support of the bill through the House. We look forward to working with our members and partners to advance responsible policies in Olympia and to Governor Inslee taking action on this legislation and helping shape Washington’s clean energy future.”

Washington State is a growing center for green hydrogen production, innovation, research, jobs, and manufacturing: 

●      In East Wenatchee, Douglas County Public Utilities District is building the country’s first green hydrogen electrolyzer, with the potential to expand production as the market for green hydrogen grows; and 1 publicly available hydrogen fueling station and 1 for their anticipated purchase of fuel cell electric vehicles for their utility fleet, as well as purchasing a fuel cell electric generator for testing as backup generation which would be able to replace highly polluting diesel generators used throughout the state for backup power;

●      Tacoma Power created the nation’s first pilot rate to support the production of electrofuels, including green hydrogen;

●      In Renton, PACCAR is manufacturing 10 Kenworth Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric drayage vehicles;

●      Universal Hydrogen is developing the world's first megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell-based powertrain and has selected Moses Lake as a major zero-carbon hydrogen flight testing and certification center for integrating its powertrain into regional aircraft; 

●      Seattle-based engineering firm First Mode is supporting mining company Anglo American in converting diesel-powered trucks to what will be the world’s largest zero-emission, full cell electric vehicles;

●      AeroTec is an engineering and certification service provider - with headquarters in Seattle, a Flight Test Center in Moses Lake, and a manufacturing center in Arlington - that has partnered with Universal Hydrogen on the certification process for its hydrogen-powered regional aircraft;

●      Everett-based MagniX is partnering with Universal Hydrogen to develop a retrofit conversion kit to a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain for regional aircraft;

●      Twin Transit is partnering with the Port of Chehalis to develop the state’s first hydrogen fueling station for vehicles funded by the Centralia Coal Transition Board and the state Legislature. 

●      PlugPower, in Spokane Valley, is a Universal Hydrogen partner and is developing, building, and certifying a commercially-viable hydrogen fuel cell-based propulsion system for regional aircraft; 

●      Klickitat Valley Hospital was funded by the state Legislature to purchase a 100 kW hydrogen powered fuel cell for a microgrid pilot project and for use as backup generation for the hospital

●      Washington State University’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research Laboratory is the only cryogenic hydrogen research laboratory in U.S. academic research; and,

●      All American Marine, based in Bellingham Bay, is building the first hydrogen fuel cell vessel in the United States;

Analysts in the United States and around the world have found that the global market for green hydrogen is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades, and that green hydrogen is a necessary step to achieving affordable carbon reductions in transportation, maritime, and heavy industry.

In a 2021 analysis, Columbia University found that “Because of the increasing widespread availability and lower cost of solar and wind power, green electrolytic hydrogen is expected to become the most common means of producing hydrogen in the future” and that by 2050, the global market for green hydrogen is expected to reach $12 trillion, while the Atlantic Council found that demand for hydrogen could double in the next two decades. McKinsey & Co. found that “Clean hydrogen offers the only long-term, scalable, and cost effective option for deep decarbonization in sectors such as steel, maritime, aviation, and ammonia.” Even Texas is joining the green hydrogen revolution: https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/green-hydrogen-plant-texas/8551694/

Washington State is uniquely positioned to be a global green hydrogen leader. Washington State has abundant supplies of renewable and clean electricity, including electricity from hydropower and wind, one of the nation’s cleanest electricity grids, and is on a path to decarbonize our electricity over the next 25 years. In addition, Washington State has responsible climate, clean energy and clean fuels policies that are driving additional investment in clean energy, and are directing us on a path to a carbon-free future.

About the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance 

The Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance (WGHA) works to grow the state’s green hydrogen industry and ensure families and businesses can benefit from an affordable, zero-emission alternative fuel source made in Washington State. Founded in 2021, the WGHA works with its members across the state’s green hydrogen industry - including project developers, aerospace, marine, vehicle manufacturers, utilities, transit agencies, and zero emission vehicle advocates - to ensure that Washington State is a green hydrogen leader. The WGHA advocates for local and state policies that advance Washington’s fossil fuel-free green hydrogen economy and drive innovation, development, and manufacturing. To learn more, visit www.wagreenhydrogen.com.