hydrogen hub
Newsletter
Credit: Malp/Big Stock Photo
North Dakota hydrogen hub seeks new partner after losing key project
North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center is searching for a new partner for its hydrogen hub after Marathon Petroleum withdrew from a major project, citing changing market conditions.
In short:
- Marathon Petroleum pulled out of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub project due to a shift in the fertilizer market and a decline in prices.
- The Energy and Environmental Research Center is negotiating with a new, undisclosed North Dakota energy partner.
- The project must secure a replacement by November to stay on track.
Key quote:
“Shifting from cheap and dirty to cleaner comes with a higher price.”
— Frank Wolak, president and CEO of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Why this matters:
Securing clean hydrogen production is imperative for reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable agriculture. The project’s success could position North Dakota as a leader in low-carbon energy.
Related EHN coverage:
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Credit: Jordan González/Unsplash+
SoCalGas plans hydrogen blending test in Orange Cove
Southern California Gas Co. aims to blend hydrogen into the gas lines of Orange Cove, a predominantly Latino community, to lower greenhouse gas emissions after wealthier areas rejected the plan.
In short:
- SoCalGas will test a hydrogen-natural gas blend in Orange Cove to reduce climate emissions, involving low-income farmworker residents.
- Risks include increased nitrogen oxide pollution and hydrogen leaks, with monitoring planned to mitigate dangers.
- Critics argue the experiment offers minimal climate benefits and exploits a vulnerable community.
Key quote:
“Disengagement creates a breeding ground where things like this happen, where people don’t know there is a hydrogen blending plant planned for the community.”
— Genoveva Islas, founder and executive director of Cultiva la Salud
Why this matters:
Hydrogen blending is part of California's strategy to cut emissions, but the project raises concerns about safety and fairness in using disadvantaged communities for environmental experiments. Critics argue that the benefits may not justify the risks and that more effective emission reduction methods exist.
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Credit: Sean Foster/Unsplash
Hydrogen hub's environmental impact sparks controversy
Proponents argue a hydrogen hub in Appalachia will reduce emissions, while critics claim the technology is unproven and costly.
In short:
- The hydrogen hub will produce blue hydrogen from natural gas, claiming carbon emissions will be sequestered underground.
- Critics argue carbon capture technology is unproven and does little to offset the environmental damage from natural gas production.
- The project, funded by $7 billion from the Biden administration, promises significant job creation but faces public opposition.
Key quote:
“It doesn’t matter what we want or what we fear as long as our concerns are never included in the calculus of decision making.”
— John Detwiler, retired engineer representing North Braddock Residents for Our Future
Why this matters:
Blue hydrogen, produced by reforming natural gas, emits carbon dioxide—a significant greenhouse gas. However, proponents argue that by capturing these emissions and storing them underground, blue hydrogen can become a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The technology aims to bridge the gap as renewable energy sources like wind and solar scale up.
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Big Stock Photo
What to know about DOE's hydrogen hubs
On Friday, the Department of Energy named the seven winners of $7 billion in federal funds to establish regional hydrogen hubs. The hubs — funded through the infrastructure law — are part of the administration’s efforts to jump-start an industry it sees as key to achieving climate goals.
Big Stock Photo
What to know about DOE's hydrogen hubs
On Friday, the Department of Energy named the seven winners of $7 billion in federal funds to establish regional hydrogen hubs. The hubs — funded through the infrastructure law — are part of the administration’s efforts to jump-start an industry it sees as key to achieving climate goals.
Top Story
| BigStock Photo ID: 465768327 |
| Copyright: Fahroni |
Appalachian hydrogen hub gets green light, and up to $925 million, from feds
A regional effort to build out a hydrogen hub in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky will receive up to $925 million as part of the Biden Administration’s effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy.
Credit: Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2016
Pa.-backed ‘blue hydrogen’ hub pitch passes first hurdle in race for $7 billion in federal funds
The Pennsylvania-blessed effort to develop a “blue hydrogen” hub in the region, which would use natural gas to make the new fuel, has secured encouragement from the U.S. Department of Energy, which is overseeing a fierce competition for $7 billion in hydrogen hub funding.
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