New strategy will develop a hydrogen economy for California

California Construction News staff writer

California will develop a hydrogen market development strategy with a goal of building a clean, renewable hydrogen market, Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced.

“California is all in on clean, renewable hydrogen – an essential aspect of how we’ll power our future and cut pollution,” Newsom said. “This strategy will lay out the pathway for building a robust hydrogen market to help us fully embrace this source of clean energy.”

The announcement follows the creation of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a shared not-for-profit LLC public-private partnership designed to accelerate hydrogen’s contribution to decarbonizing the economy in California and beyond.

Expanding the market for clean, renewable hydrogen is key to achieving California’s climate goals – especially for a clean electric grid, net-zero carbon emissions, and drastically cutting air pollution.

California is currently competing to become a federally funded Hydrogen Hub, a program that will leverage $8 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish at least four Hydrogen Hubs across the United States.

The strategy will be created in consultation with state agencies – including the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the California Public Utilities Commission.

“ARCHES was structured to enable and deliver a clean renewable hydrogen energy system in California and beyond,” said ARCHES CEO Angelina Galiteva. “Governor Newsom’s all-of-government approach to accelerating the hydrogen market is exactly what we need to deliver for California and the nation. ARCHES is fully committed to continuing to work hand in hand with GO-Biz and our broad coalition of partners to accelerate California’s transition to a carbon free economy.”