Houston Republic

HOUSTON - On October 13, President Biden and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm announced the selection of HyVelocity to begin award negotiations for the development of the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub.

The Houston region was selected as one seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to receive $7 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding.
 
The seven hubs will initiate a nationwide network that connects clean hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure to facilitate the production, storage, delivery, and end-use of clean hydrogen.  
 
This historic announcement marks one of the largest investments in clean manufacturing and jobs in history.   
 
“I’d like to thank the Secretary Granholm, Under Secretary Crane, and the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations at the Department of Energy for this important opportunity to demonstrate that Houston is uniquely able and willing to lead in the global energy transition,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.  “As I’ve stated repeatedly over the past years, we are uniquely positioned to lead a transformational clean hydrogen hub that will deliver economic growth and good jobs, including in historically underserved communities. HyVelocity will also help scale up national and world clean hydrogen economies, resulting in significant decarbonization gains.  I’d also like to thank all of the partners who came together to create HyVelocity Hub a true spirit of public-private collaboration.”
 
The Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, the second-largest of the seven selected hubs is expected to receive up to $1.2 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding.  The H2Hub will be centered in the Houston region and have major economic impact for the City of Houston with the creation of 45,000 direct jobs including 35,000 in construction and 10,000 permanent positions.  
 
The hub will be administered by GTI Energy and includes a wide array of organizations, including organizing participants, the University of Texas at Austin, The Center for Houston’s Future, and Houston Advanced Research Center.

Houston is already the Energy Capital of the World, and this historic announcement is a resounding affirmation of the City’s leadership towards an equitable and inclusive energy transition.   

"We knew we had to act to adapt to climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Mayor Sylvester Turner.  "The Resilient Houston strategy and the Houston Climate Action Plan, which I launched in 2020, are an essential part of that response.  Our Climate Action Plan embraces a wide range of solutions and technologies, from renewables to hydrogen and carbon capture.  We are now in the fourth year of implementation, and I am proud to say we have made great strides." 

Original source can be found here.