The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a Full Committee Hearing on Clean Hydrogen on February 10, 2022, to “examine the opportunities and challenges in using clean hydrogen” following the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)’s allocation of $8 billion to clean hydrogen initiatives along the hydrogen value chain, including the creation of at least four hydrogen “hubs” around the country.

Witnesses included Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office; Dr. Glen Richard Murrell, Executive Director of the Wyoming Energy Authority; Jonathan Lewis, Senior Counsel and Director of Transportation Decarbonization at Clean Air Task Force; Michael J. Graff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc.; and Brian Hlavinka, Vice President of New Energy Ventures at Williams Companies.

Here are the top takeaways from last week’s hearing:

1. Hydrogen Has Widespread Bipartisan Support

Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) called clean hydrogen a “game-changing fuel that we can produce right here at home from our abundant resources,” noting it can “decarbonize different sectors of the economy while supporting energy independence.” The support was echoed by committee members on both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) who referenced “bipartisan agreement” that hydrogen can “keep [the US] to a low-carbon future.”

Sens. Manchin, Cassidy, Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) all touted the hydrogen benefits of their respective states and argued why each would be an ideal hub location. Other committee members, including Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and John Hoeven (R-ND), expressed interest in hydrogen’s uses in their states even without hubs, directing questions about infrastructure logistics and operations to several of the witnesses.

2. Climate Goals Require an “All of the Above” Technology Approach

Both Manchin and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), presiding as ranking member in Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)’s absence, voiced support for an “all of the above” hydrogen strategy. Manchin stated that he supported “all of the energy feedstocks and technologies that can be used to produce hydrogen” in conjunction with carbon capture and electrolysis, while Lankford voiced concerns that debate over hydrogen’s “colors” would “pit technologies against each other,” preventing the “widespread success” possible with hydrogen.

Witness Johnathan Lewis emphasized that electrification alone will not achieve net-zero goals, and that zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen will be needed. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) echoed this sentiment in her line of questioning to witness Michael Graff, who spoke from operational experience of the complementary nature of hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric vehicles. Both will be needed to achieve a net-zero transportation sector.

3. Public-Private Partnerships are Crucial to Deploying Full-Scale Hydrogen Infrastructure

Manchin acknowledged the “challenges” to building a hydrogen economy, including prohibitive production and retrofitting costs and transportation logistics. He asserted that the United States “need[s] to develop hydrogen markets that can sustain themselves” and “invest in the entire hydrogen value chain.” Mr. Graff stated that “the private sector is ready to lead,” citing Air Liquide’s decades of hydrogen experience. All witnesses, including Dr. Satyapal, highlighted DOE programs including, Earthshot and Matchmaker, as necessary initiatives for government to further develop and expand. Dr. Satyapal also announced that the DOE will “soon” release two Requests for Information around hydrogen hubs, electrolyzers, and clean recycling provisions in the IIJA that will further inform government hydrogen action.