State of Delaware Selected as Key Player in Clean Hydrogen Initiative

Here is the Governor of Delaware describing the State’s plans

From an Article by Maryann Pugh, PA Chester County News, December 23, 2023

WILMINGTON, DE — A historic conference held at the Chase Center on the Riverfront this week has placed Delaware firmly at the forefront of the clean hydrogen revolution. Governor John Carney, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester hosted U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary David Turk to discuss the enormous potential of clean hydrogen energy for Delaware and the region.

The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen (MACH2) proposal, a public-private venture uniting Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey, was selected by the DOE in October as one of the country’s seven regional clean hydrogen hubs. This prestigious designation comes with a robust $750 million federal grant, courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Clean Hydrogen for the Mid-Atlantic Conference brought together over 300 regional stakeholders to delve into the hub’s expected positive impact on regional economies, public health, and the environment. Distinguished guests and panelists included representatives from Bloom Energy, Chesapeake Utilities, First State Hydrogen, PBF Energy, DART, University of Delaware Center for Clean Hydrogen, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and the Delaware Workforce Development Board.

The MACH2 initiative aligns with President Biden’s ambitious environmental targets: a fully clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is expected to reinforce national energy security and create approximately 20,000 well-paying clean energy jobs, including union jobs. The plan involves producing, distributing, and utilizing clean hydrogen to power everything from vehicles and airplanes to industries, leveraging the region’s highly skilled, unionized workforce and strong manufacturing, chemical, and bioscience sectors.

“Hydrogen hubs present a win-win-win for our climate, our communities and union workforce, and for the economy,” said David Turk, DOE Deputy Secretary. “Clean hydrogen is the Swiss Army Knife of clean energy technologies. It can decarbonize some of our hardest-to-abate sectors, like heavy industry and transportation, and can provide long-duration energy storage.”

Governor John Carney echoed Turk’s enthusiasm, emphasizing the significance of Delaware being selected as one of the seven regional hydrogen hubs. “This designation will bring $750 million for Delaware and our partners in the region to build a clean energy industry that will create thousands of good union jobs,” said Governor Carney. “The point of cleaner energy is to make things cleaner and better for people – especially those who live in disadvantaged communities. There will be an opportunity at each stage for the Delawareans to weigh in and shape these projects, and we encourage the public to participate.”

As Delaware steps into the future with this clean hydrogen initiative, the potential for economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community involvement is clear. The MACH2 project represents not just a step, but a giant leap forward in the journey towards a cleaner, greener future.

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