California governor announces New strategy for hydrogen economy of the future

With a strong commitment to shaping the sustainable energy landscape, Governor Gavin Newsom has urged the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to further refine the state's hydrogen market development strategy, ushering in a new era of hydrogen in California.

This visionary hydrogen market development strategy is expected to take California's clean energy and renewable hydrogen market to unprecedented heights. The launch of this strategy is in line with California's Zero Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy and demonstrates California's strong determination to create a zero-emission prosperity path for all residents.

The urgency of expanding the horizons of the clean, renewable hydrogen energy market is inextricably linked to California's unwavering climate goals. This initiative, driven in part by the need for a clean grid, net zero carbon emissions and a significant reduction in air pollution, aligns with California's vision for a sustainable future. In addition, California is working to establish itself as a federally funded hydrogen energy hub, and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress will inject $8 billion to establish multiple hydrogen energy centers across the country.

The California Hydrogen Market Development Strategy lays out a new blueprint to accelerate the potential of hydrogen as a catalyst to accelerate the deployment of clean energy and decarbonize the transportation and industrial sectors. Drawing inspiration from the Scoping Plan 2022 and combined with insights from the SB 1075 Hydrogen Report, the strategy aims to develop a robust framework that integrates different stakeholders and clearly defines the roles of state agencies. The strategy seeks to find groundbreaking and innovative financing models, streamline licensing procedures and introduce transformative procurement initiatives.

The California Hydrogen Market Development Strategy's commitment to equity, environmental stewardess and economic growth is further underscored by its efforts to bring stakeholders together by engaging the active participation of local communities and various stakeholders, while the inclusive nature of the strategy reflects California's efforts to coordinate all efforts to achieve a cleaner, more resilient energy landscape.

The strategy builds on the governor's executive order to establish an infrastructure Strike group to streamline hydrogen projects across the state. The California Hydrogen Market development strategy will be a result of the joint efforts of the Infrastructure Strike Group's Hydrogen, Clean Energy, Transportation and zero-Emission Vehicles working Group. California's application for federal funding was led and submitted by the California Coalition for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCCHES), a public-private partnership that seeks to create an economically sustainable, multisector renewable hydrogen ecosystem that directly benefits communities in California.

This effort is supported by influential voices on all sides. Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor of California and Director of GO-Biz, sees the Hydrogen market development strategy as a transformative force that can boost economic growth, create more jobs, improve the environment and drive California's clean energy transition. ARCHES CEO Angelina Galiteva echoed this sentiment, expressing her support for Governor Newsom's efforts to accelerate hydrogen market expansion to accelerate California's path to a carbon-free economy.