Lawmakers Push for Flexibility in Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit to Boost Energy Economies
Key Ideas
  • Local lawmakers advocate for changes in the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit to support regional energy economies and the growth of a hydrogen energy market.
  • Proposed strict guidelines are seen as counterproductive and may hinder climate change progress, private investments, and job creation.
  • Hydrogen production using hydropower offers a cleaner alternative to current methods that rely on natural gas, but it raises concerns about environmental impacts on salmon populations and river health.
  • A call for a balanced approach that promotes emissions reductions, supports clean hydrogen economy growth, and maintains American leadership in clean energy innovation is emphasized by congressional Democrats.
Three Washington state lawmakers, Reps. Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier, and Rick Larsen are advocating for changes in the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit to provide flexibility for regional energy economies. They argue that strict guidelines may hinder the growth of the hydrogen energy market and could be counterproductive in states like Washington with existing clean energy policies. The lawmakers stress that the current rules could impede climate change progress, private investments, and job creation. They are urging the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to revise guidelines to incentivize a broader range of projects and enhance flexibility in utilizing power within the national energy grid. The lawmakers highlight the importance of supporting both emissions reductions and the growth of a clean hydrogen economy to achieve climate goals, promote clean energy innovation, and ensure energy independence. The use of hydropower to create hydrogen is discussed as a cleaner alternative to the current method of using natural gas, which produces carbon emissions. However, concerns are raised about the impact of hydropower on salmon populations and river health. The creation of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and the participation in the Department of Energy's H2Hubs program to develop hydrogen infrastructure are also mentioned in the article.
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