Here’s what critics are saying about last week’s hydrogen hub announcement - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Here’s what critics are saying about last week’s hydrogen hub announcement

The Friday announcement that seven projects had been selected to receive $7 billion in seed money to kickstart the production of clean hydrogen across the country was billed by President Joe Biden’s administration as a major step toward slashing carbon emissions, creating thousands of domestic jobs and positioning the U.S. as a clean energy leader.

“I’m here to announce one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in the history of this nation,” Biden said during an appearance in Philadelphia.”Seven billion dollars in federal investments that’s going to attract $40 billion in private investments in clean hydrogen.”

However, there’s also criticism over a lack of transparency by the Department of Energy around the application and selection process. Others are dubious about the ways some of the newly minted “hydrogen hubs” intend to produce the gas, which the administration called “crucial to achieving President Biden’s goal of American industry powered by American clean energy.”

Hydrogen, which releases no carbon emissions when burned, is seen broadly as a key part of cutting emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy, such as steelmaking, cement manufacturing, aviation, shipping and other areas.

There’s more controversy around uses like blending it with natural gas to burn in power plants or for heating.

How climate-friendly hydrogen is depends on how it’s produced. Currently, most hydrogen in the U.S. is produced using natural gas, known as “gray” hydrogen. “Green” hydrogen is produced by an electrolysis process with clean energy. “Blue” hydrogen is fossil-fuel derived but coupled with carbon capture, in which CO2 is filtered out of emissions and stored. Louisiana has several green and blue hydrogen projects in the works.

Four of the projects that the DOE announced as winners—the Appalachian, Gulf Coast, Heartland and Midwest hydrogen hubs—will use fossil fuels to produce hydrogen.

In some scenarios, environmental groups worry the hydrogen could actually increase U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full story about the arguments against hydrogen production from Louisiana Illuminator.