Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Applaud Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub Proposal Award by Energy Department for Clean Hydrogen Research, Development, and Deployment

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) selection of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), a public-private partnership between Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Southern New Jersey, as one of 7 regional clean hydrogen hubs. Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $8 billion hydrogen hub program, MACH2 will advance President Biden’s goal of a 100 percent clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, strengthen our nation’s energy security, and create an estimated 20,000 good-paying clean energy jobs, including union jobs.

“The green light of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub is wonderful news for the future of Delaware, our nation, and our planet,” said Senator Carper, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Clean hydrogen has a critical role in reducing emissions while creating good-paying jobs in Delaware and across our country. As a Senate co-author of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I’m so proud to see the Department of Energy acknowledge that our region has the first-class labor workforce, strong industrial presence, and existing infrastructure necessary to support clean hydrogen production. MACH2 will allow Delaware to cement our status as a clean energy leader and help advance our nation’s climate goals.”

“Today is a monumental day for Delaware and its role in the future of our nation’s clean energy economy. Delaware possesses the resources, infrastructure, and workforce that make it an ideal location for one of the country’s first hydrogen hubs, and I’m glad the Department of Energy has recognized these strengths by selecting the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub,” said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. “MACH2 will create a new generation of good-paying jobs for Delawareans, support new industries that can work hand-in-hand with our universities and leading businesses, and ensure that the First State plays a leading role in reducing our nation’s carbon footprint. I am proud to have advocated tirelessly for this proposal and can’t wait to see these projects come to fruition.”

“Today’s award of the Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub is a touchstone moment as we build a clean energy economy across our nation,” said Representative Blunt Rochester, member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.“That the Mid-Atlantic Hub has been named as one of the regional hubs is testament to the remarkable workforce and resources throughout Delaware and our neighboring states. I’m immensely proud of the work of all of the partners who came together to make our proposal possible and am even more excited at the prospect of working with these remarkable stakeholders as we build a Hub that creates good-paying union jobs, clean energy, and helps power our economy.”

BACKGROUND

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021, and championed by Carper, Coons, and Blunt Rochester, authorized $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen research, development, and demonstration programs. This included $8 billion to develop regional clean hydrogen hubs located in different geographic regions across the United States. These clean hydrogen hubs will create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of clean hydrogen.

Submitted to the Department of Energy in April 2023, the MACH2 project will produce, distribute, and use clean hydrogen to power our vehicles, airplanes, industries, and more. The proposal was chosen largely due to the highly trained, unionized workforce in Delaware and the surrounding area, as well as the region’s strong manufacturing, chemical, and bioscience presence and existing infrastructure capable of transporting and storing hydrogen.