PA League Of Women Voters, Food & Water Watch Launch Letter-Writing Campaign Opposing Hydrogen Hubs In PA

On August 7, the League of Women Voters of PA and Food and Water Watch announced they are teaming up on a letter-writing campaign to the US Department of Energy in opposition to hydrogen hubs in Pennsylvania. 

“Hydrogen hubs are manufacturing centers for producing hydrogen fuel from liquified natural gas (LNG). Proponents of these centers tout them as clean energy hydrogen hubs, but this is misleading. 

“All hydrogen hubs rely heavily or entirely on blue hydrogen which is produced from fracked gas. If renewable energy were used, it would produce green hydrogen, which would be a clean energy source.

“Three hydrogen hub applications involving Pennsylvania have been submitted to the US Department of Energy: MACH2 is in southeastern PA, and DNA and ARCH2 are in western PA.

“If any applications are awarded funding by the DOE, Pennsylvania will face the buildout of more fossil fuel infrastructure such as power plants and pipelines, including dangerous, unregulated carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines across Pennsylvania and decades of fracking. 

“Our climate, air, water, health and safety will continue to be adversely impacted by the fossil fuel industry under the guise of so-called "clean hydrogen.” 

“Over the coming months the DOE will make decisions about allocating funds from the federal Inflation Reduction Act for hydrogen hubs, and now is the time to act to keep this dirty energy out of Pennsylvania.

“Handwritten letters are an effective way of getting the attention of DOE officials.  Please write to the person in charge of the decision-making process, Director Shalanda H. Baker at the following address:  Shalanda H. Baker, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20585

“Funding decisions are expected in October so please send by September 25, 2023. 

“If you would like a template letter, please contact Kathy Cook, Kathy.cook@palwv.org.”

Related Articles:

-- Guest Essay: ‘Clean’ Hydrogen Smoke And Mirrors - By Karen Elias, Lock Haven. [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: Public Health Impacts Of Blue Hydrogen Production, Health, Environmental Protections Needed  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council: Clean Hydrogen & Carbon Capture Can Be Part Of A Comprehensive Decarbonization Strategy: Responsibly Deployed With Environmental Integrity, Accountability And Equity  [PaEN]

-- NRDC Blog: How Clean Is Pennsylvania’s New Hydrogen Subsidy? It’s Up To The Feds  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Wolf Signs Massive, 20-Year Taxpayer Subsidies Into Law For Natural Gas, Hydrogen And Petrochemical Industries With No Public Accountability Or Environmental Safeguards  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Aug. 16 Webinar: Why Should We Care About, Advocate For A Climate-Friendly Federal Farm Bill?  [PaEN] 

-- PA-Based Evangelical Environmental Network: Over 51,000 Christians Call For Stronger Standards On Fossil Fuel Power Plants  [PaEN]

-- On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia, Partners: Solar-Powered Faith Communities And Houses Of Worship, Saving Money And Ethical Labor  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA: Bipartisan Poll Finds Broad Support In PA For Clean Energy Transition  [PaEN] 

-- PA League Of Women Voters, Food & Water Watch Launch Letter-Writing Campaign Opposing Hydrogen Hubs In PA  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 7, 2023]  PA Environment Digest