Rocky Mountain States Team Up To Develop Hydrogen Fuel Hub

Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks, and trains, the states’ governors announced Thursday (Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Manila), Mead Gruver and Morgan Lee reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Hydrogen’s potential has been limited by infrastructure as lack of fueling stations limits the market for hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming will plan a “hydrogen hub” to be built somewhere in the region, drawing from $8 billion in recently approved federal infrastructure funding for four or more such regional hubs in the US.

“This coalition represents a shared vision for the future of hydrogen in the Mountain West region,” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said in a joint statement with governors Jared Polis of Colorado, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, and Spencer Cox of Utah.

The Western Inter-State Hydrogen Hub will have facilities in all four states under plans to be submitted to the US Department of Energy, according to an agreement signed Wednesday. Goals will include economic development and the “latest science, research and technology for cost-effective generation, transportation, and use of clean hydrogen,” the states’ agreement said.

Hydrogen has long been eyed as an abundant, clean fuel. Companies including major auto manufacturers have been developing hydrogen-fueled cars, trucks, buses, and trains.

Hydrogen can be derived from water using an electric current and when burned emits only water vapor as a byproduct. The fuel could theoretically reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution, depending on how it’s obtained. As with electric vehicles, however, hydrogen’s potential has been limited by infrastructure.

Lack of fueling stations limits the market for hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Few hydrogen-fueled vehicles limit investment in producing and moving hydrogen.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic