Weber says SETX hydrogen hub will create 45,000 jobs - KFDM-TV News

Weber says SETX hydrogen hub will create 45,000 jobs | KFDM

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Randy Weber says the the government has selected Southeast Texas for a project that will receive up to $1.2 billion and generate about 45,000 jobs.

The Department of Energy has selected Southeast Texas for the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (HyVelocity H2Hub). Weber says it'll receive up to $1.2 billion from DOE and stretch across the Texas coast.

The Hub will create approximately 45,000 direct jobs—35,000 in construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs.

“It is an exciting day for Southeast Texas as we welcome the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub to our backyard,” said Rep. Weber. “This hub, located in the energy capital of the world, will be a game-changer, harnessing our resources to produce hydrogen, reduce emissions, and create 45,000 jobs right here at home. I am heartened that the Department of Energy understands and has recognized our region’s role in powering this nation.”

The goal of the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub is to help kickstart the clean hydrogen economy with its plans for large-scale hydrogen production through both natural gas with carbon capture and renewables-powered electrolysis, leveraging the Gulf Coast region’s abundant renewable energy and natural gas supply to drive down the cost of hydrogen—a crucial step to achieving market liftoff.

Clean-energy projects in seven states from Pennsylvania to California have been selected by the Biden administration for the $7 billion program to boost development and production of hydrogen fuel, a key component of President Joe Biden’s agenda to slow climate change.

His goal is to establish seven regional hydrogen hubs to help replace fossil fuels such as coal and oil with cleaner-burning hydrogen as an energy source for vehicles, manufacturing and generating electricity.

The White House calls clean hydrogen “essential to achieving the president’s vision of a strong clean energy economy” and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2050.

“As a clean fuel, hydrogen complements the role played by other clean energy sources, like wind and solar, to help the U.S. reduce emissions in energy-intensive sectors of the economy: steel and cement production, heavy-duty transportation, and shipping,’' the White House said in a statement.

The seven hubs selected by the administration will spur more than $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, the White House said, including many high-paying union jobs.

There were 23 finalists for the hydrogen fuel program. The projects selected are based in California, Washington, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois.