TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy, Governor Hochul of New York, Governor Baker of Massachusetts, and Governor Lamont of Connecticut today announced a multi-state partnership to propose a regional clean hydrogen hub. The states will join with an initial group of 40 hydrogen ecosystem partners to develop a proposal to become one of at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).  

The New York-led consortium includes New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut – longstanding leaders in hydrogen and fuel cell innovation, and key neighbors on the I-95 corridor. Today’s announcement advances each states’ leadership in clean hydrogen infrastructure deployment and research and development and opens the door for future state additions. 

 “Clean hydrogen has the promise to expand New Jersey’s diverse clean energy portfolio,” said Governor Murphy. “Clean hydrogen technology also has the potential to improve net greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutant impacts. Joining together with our regional partners will allow us to build a strong coalition for the development of clean hydrogen technology and cultivate economic growth and opportunity for New Jersey.” 

“New York is proud to lead the way in forming bold partnerships to combat the existential threat of climate change,” said Governor Kathy Hochul of New York. “Expanding the hydrogen market is critical to New York’s aggressive pursuit of clean-energy alternatives that will supercharge our economy and advance our climate goals. Coalitions like this one serve as a model to the nation on the collaboration that is required to meet this moment and bring us closer to a carbon-neutral future, and I thank Governors Lamont, Baker and Murphy for their partnership.”

“The urgency of climate change and the implementation of our net-zero by 2050 strategy requires a comprehensive approach, which includes the research and deployment of technologies that will allow more cost-effective clean energy in the future,” said Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. “Today’s announcement is a critical step for regional collaboration in integrating this clean energy resource into our existing climate strategy, and Massachusetts looks forward to working with our state partners on this initiative.”   

“Connecticut has long been a leader in addressing the climate crisis and in researching and developing innovative technologies, and this exciting partnership unites both of those key leadership areas,” said Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut. “We’re proud to share a commitment to climate leadership, fuel cell innovation, and clean energy jobs with our neighboring states, which will position us competitively to bring federal investment in clean hydrogen to our region.” 

New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have committed to collaborate with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on proposal development, in consultation with coalition partners to advance hydrogen projects to participate in the hub proposal, consistent with the core principles of greenhouse gas reduction, economic development, resilience, and environmental justice. Partnering states will also coordinate with their respective state entities to help align the consortium’s efforts with each state’s climate and clean energy goals, including New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, New York’s goal of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 85 Percent by 2050, Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, and Massachusetts’ goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. 

The initial coalition of 40 partners, with strategic direction from NYSERDA, New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Empire State Development (ESD), agree to work together to advance a vision that enables a long-term sustainable regional clean hydrogen industry and to develop a proposal in response to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement, anticipated to launch in May 2022 with $8 billion in funding available. The coalition presents a coordinated, multi-state approach to a hydrogen hub that connects the entire value chain of hydrogen producers, users, technology and equipment manufacturers, and the research and development community including national labs and universities.  

In addition to New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts the partners who have executed agreements with NYSERDA include:

• Alliance Energy Group LLC
  
  
• Alternative Aviation Fuels LLC
  
  
• BAE Systems
  
  
• Bloom Energy Corporation
  
  
• CALSTART
  
  
• Climate Jobs NY
  
  
• Columbia University
  
  
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
  
  
• Constellation Energy Generation, LLC
  
  
• Cornell University
  
  
• Cummins, Inc.
  
  
• Daroga Power
  
  
• Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc.
  
  
• Ecolectro, Inc.
  
  
• Empire State Development (ESD)
  
  
• FuelCell Energy
  
  
• Invenergy Hydrogen LLC
  
  
• Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp.
  
  
• Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
  
  
• National Grid
  
  
• National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
  
  
• New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST)
  
  
• New York Power Authority (NYPA)
  
  
• New York University
  
  
• Next Hydrogen Corporation
  
  
• Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc.
  
  
• Ohmium International
  
  
• Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.
  
  
• Plug Power Inc.
  
  
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
  
  
• Standard Hydrogen Corporation
  
  
• Stony Brook University / Advanced Energy Center (AERTC)
  
  
• The City College of New York (CUNY)
  
  
• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
  
  
• University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
  
  
• Vermont Gas Systems (VGS)
  
  
• WATT Fuel Cell Corporation

The partners will work together to: 

• Define the shared vision and plans for the regional hydrogen hub that can advance safe green hydrogen energy innovation and investment to address climate change, while improving the health, resiliency, and economic development of the region’s residents.
  
  
• Advance a Hub proposal that makes climate and environmental justice central to its strategy, which will deliver opportunities and improved quality of life to under resourced areas across the region.
  
  
• Perform research and analysis necessary to support the hub proposal and align on approach to quantifying greenhouse gas emissions reductions as a result of deploying this technology.
  
  
• Develop a framework to ensure the ecosystem for innovation, production, infrastructure, and related workforce development is shared across all partner states.
  
  
• Support environmentally responsible opportunities to develop hydrogen, in accordance with participating states’ policies.

New Jersey and its partner states continue to seek additional public and private partners in the region and focus on coordinating the regional fuel cell innovation ecosystem, integrating offshore wind and solar PV into hydrogen production and deploying hydrogen for use in transportation, including potential deployment in medium and heavy- duty vehicles, heavy industry, power generation and maritime applications or other appropriate uses consistent with decarbonization efforts. Future consortium partners may include utilities, electrolyzer suppliers, fuel cell solution providers, transportation, fueling infrastructure and industrial partners, government agencies, community organizations, institutes of higher education, community colleges, vocational schools and non-profit organizations.