Senator Murray Applauds U.S. Department of Energy Awarding the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association Phase 1 Status

ICYMI: Senator Murray Announces $1 Billion for New Hydrogen Hub in Pacific Northwest Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Washington, D.C.– Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2), a multi-state nonprofit organization focused on creating a robust network of clean hydrogen suppliers and end-users in the Pacific Northwest, being awarded its Phase 1 status from from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). PNWH2 is one of the first U.S. Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to move into Phase 1.

As part of this designation, PNWH2 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.

“The Pacific Northwest is an undisputed leader in the clean energy economy, and PNWH2’s designation as a Hydrogen Hub—thanks to funding I helped to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—will mean $1 billion in federal funding matched with billions more in private investment,” said Senator Murray. “PNWH2 is going to speed up our decarbonization efforts and the transition to a clean energy economy and today’s launch of Phase 1 marks a huge step forward in making this clean hydrogen ecosystem a reality. I’m thrilled to be a partner in this fight with PNWH2 and can’t wait to see the incredible impact they have on our region.”

Murray announced up to $1 billion in federal funding last year from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association to become a “Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub” under a landmark new DOE program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Murray helped author and pass. The new Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program, one of the largest in DOE’s history, will be an important driver in helping communities across the country benefit from clean energy investments, good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector, and improved energy security. The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association was selected from over 79 project applications to become one of seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs across the country. Murray, along with other members of the Pacific Northwest’s congressional delegations, wrote to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in support of Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s proposal to become a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub. Prior to its designation as a Hydrogen Hub, Murray hosted a roundtable with local leaders representing the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association to discuss her push to secure this major federal award and ensure that Washington state remains a climate leader, particularly on the nascent green hydrogen economy. 

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