The Biden administration’s recent announcement of a $7 billion investment plan to establish seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation has sparked a debate over its environmental efficacy.
New Jersey environmental advocate Lisa McCormick voiced skepticism about the initiative, questioning its alignment with Biden’s climate and energy security rhetoric.
While the H2Hub program is lauded as a significant component of Bidenomics, allocating $7 billion to at least six proposals submitted by state or regional coalitions, McCormick contends that crucial issues are being overlooked.
From health and safety risks to what she perceives as “hydrogen’s dubious climate credentials,” she remains critical of the program.
McCormick particularly emphasizes her concerns about the inclusion of natural gas in the hydrogen production process, resulting in the production of industry-branded “blue hydrogen.”
McCormick dismisses this approach, saying, “Carbon capture has never worked reliably or at scale, and even if this fairy tale did deliver, it wouldn’t be good news because lifecycle emissions of ‘blue hydrogen’ are worse for the climate than burning coal.”
Labeling the funds for hydrogen hubs as ‘clean energy investments,’ McCormick asserts, “It’s an attempt to disguise continued reliance on existing practices.”
She suggests that dirty energy companies are leveraging hydrogen development to greenwash and create new markets for fracked gas.
Expressing concerns about financial burdens and potential environmental threats, McCormick emphasizes, “H2Hubs will be expensive and resource-hungry, potentially contributing to pollution and threatening our food and water, economy, health, and survival.”
Questioning the sincerity of Pennsylvania’s transition to renewable hydrogen, McCormick cites the allowance for companies to claim gas credits for two decades under the enacted $1 billion tax credit for facilities joining an H2Hub.
The H2Hub grants, covering a maximum of 50% of a project’s cost, raise concerns about the remaining financial responsibility falling on private companies, taxpayers, and other public sources. Potential increases in taxes and utility rates are estimated to cost households, with projections suggesting at least $1,000 a year for Pittsburgh households if a hub were established in Western Pennsylvania.
As the DOE prepares to unveil H2Hub grant recipients, opponents emphasize the risks associated with a substantial buildout of what they consider questionable technology. With projects already underway nationwide, the debate over hydrogen hubs intensifies, balancing environmental concerns against economic and energy security goals.
McCormick’s criticism extends beyond the hydrogen hubs, with a focus on climate action and accountability for fossil fuel executives. Calling for the prosecution of those responsible for the climate crisis, she advocates for the nationalization of oil companies and utilizing their resources for a transition to renewable energy sources.
In light of escalating global warming consequences, McCormick emphasizes the urgency of immediate and drastic action. She warns that failure to address the climate crisis could lead to a future with severe consequences, including threats to food production, increased air pollution-related deaths, and water scarcity.
McCormick’s call for accountability extends to the current president of the climate talks, Sultan Al Jaber, who heads a major oil company. She underscores the conflict of interest between the oil industry and climate talks, urging a reevaluation of such relationships.
In response to these pressing issues, McCormick calls for a prioritization of environmental health over corporate interests. With her unwavering commitment to addressing the climate crisis, she emerges as a prominent voice for change, urging widespread support for sustainable and environmentally conscious initiatives.