The president announced funding to launch seven Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation Oct. 13 to accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost clean hydrogen.

“I am here to announce one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in the history of this nation – $7 billion in federal investments that is going to attract $40 billion in private investment in clean hydrogen and power,” said President Joe Biden said Friday in Philadelphia.

The funding comes via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the initiative overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy to kick-start a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers and connective infrastructure while supporting the production, storage, delivery and end-use of clean hydrogen.

The administration says that is critical to meeting the president’s climate and energy security goals – since clean hydrogen can be produced with zero or near-zero carbon emissions.

“Unlocking the fully potential of hydrogen – a versatile fuel that can be made from almost any energy resource in virtually every part of the country – is crucial to achieving President Biden’s goal of American industry powered by American clean energy, ensuring less volatility and more affordable energy options for American families and businesses,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “With this historic investment, the Biden-Harris Administration is laying the foundation for a new, American-led industry that will propel the global clean energy transition while creating high quality jobs and delivering healthier communities in every pocket of the nation.”

New Jersey was selected to participate in the initiative as part of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), which includes Pennsylvania and Delaware as well.

According to a press release, MACH2 will receive a grant of up to $750 million to unlock hydrogen-driven decarbonization in the Mid-Atlantic while repurposing historic oil infrastructure and using existing rights-of-way. While many of the specific details are not yet known, since the initiative is its infancy, plans include developing renewable hydrogen production facilities from renewable and nuclear electricity using both established and innovative electrolyzer technologies.

Early estimates anticipate this hub creating more than 20,000 direct jobs – including over 14,000 in construction and some 6,000 permanent jobs – with plans to negotiate Project Labor Agreements for all projects and provide close to $14 million for regional workforce development boards that will serve as partners for community college training and pre-apprenticeships.

“Those hubs are about people coming together across state lines, across industries, across political parties to build a stronger, more sustainable economy and to rebuild our communities,” said Biden. “The hub in the Mid-Atlantic region – it’s made up of 17 sites spanning Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.”

Biden noted that this hub is slated to produce 100,000 tons of hydrogen per year while attracting more than $2 billion in private investment.

“The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub will play an essential role in advancing our region’s economic and environmental goals by creating more than 20,000 well-paying jobs in the production, delivery, and use of zero-emission green and pink hydrogen to repower our region’s industrial facilities, transportation systems, and agriculture sectors,” said Collin O’Mara, chair of MACH2 and president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

“The strength of our application speaks to the assets our region has to offer – a robust workforce and union labor, access to world-class academic and research institutions, a robust innovation ecosystem, and strong and continued engagement with communities,” said Marty Wade, CEO of MACH 2, who noted that the successful bid was a result of the collaborative effort between those different community stakeholders across the region. “MACH2 will only serve to further position our region as a national leader in the clean energy economy.”

The announcement was applauded by leaders and many of these stakeholders throughout the area.

“The men and women of the union construction trades are proud to be partners in this major initiative that has the potential to transform our workforce and improve quality of life throughout the region,” said Daniel Cosner, president of the South New Jersey Building Trades.

“Rowan University stands ready to build the region’s new workforce, along with our training and industry partners,” said Tony Lowman, Rowan University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “We will offer flexible, accessible and affordable pathways to credentials and degrees, starting as early as high school and going all the way through the Ph.D. level. We’ll also work with our industry partners to ensure those degrees lead to local, meaningful careers. This stackable credit education model is the piece that’s missing from today’s economy.”

“We look forward to working with the hub to develop clean hydrogen infrastructure in New Jersey, which will be an important opportunity to drive job creation and economic development in the state as it pursues a clean energy future,” PSEG said in a statement following the announcement. “Our participation with the hydrogen hub will give us more experience and insights in the years to come as we continue to pursue our Powering Progress vision for a future where customers use less energy and it’s cleaner, safer, and delivered more reliably than ever.”

‘New Jersey’s energy future’

On the heels of this announcement – and another reflection of the growing buzz in this space – the Sweeney Center for Public Policy at Rowan University is hosting its second energy conference Oct. 23, “The Road to Zero Emissions: The Future of Nuclear, Hydrogen, and Emerging Energy Technologies in New Jersey.”

The conference will include speeches and panels featuring leading New Jersey energy CEOs, industry and business leaders, representatives from academia, and the new Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.

“President Biden’s announcement of a $750 million grant for our region’s hydrogen hub cements South Jersey more than every as the epicenter for alternative energy,” said Steve Sweeney, the former Senate President, the center’s advisory board chair, and a keynote speaker at the conference. “I’m pleased that the Sweeney Center is focusing so heavily on energy issues. The challenge for us is to develop a pragmatic long-term approach to energy policy that develops a diverse green energy portfolio that cuts greenhouse emissions while ensuring affordability and reliability for customers.”

“We are pleased to offer a conference that looks forward on the technologies that will shape New Jersey’s energy future,” said Sweeney Center Director Mark Magyar.