Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance Launches To Improve States Air

Evergreen Hydrogen, A Zero-Carbon Fuel Source Made In Washington Addresses Largest Sources of Climate Pollution, Advances Environmental Justice, and Helps Heavy Industry Become Cleaner More Affordably 

New Alliance Represents Members from across State’s Aerospace, Marine, and Vehicle Manufacturing Sectors, Utilities, and Green Hydrogen Project Developers

Long-Term Goal Is to Make Evergreen Hydrogen A Major Solution in Move Away from Fossil Fuels

OLYMPIA, WA - Washington State’s fast-growing green hydrogen industry today announced a new statewide advocacy group, the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance (WGHA) (www.wagreenhydrogen.com), to help reduce air and water pollution caused by transportation, cut carbon emissions from heavy industry sectors affordably, create clean energy jobs across the Evergreen State, advance environmental justice, and grow Washington-made green hydrogen as a major industry and brand around the world.

Green, or (Ever)green, hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel source made in Washington that can be used to provide clean power for transportation and manufacturing. Green hydrogen fuel is made from freshwater and renewable energy like Washington State’s abundant hydropower and wind power sources, to create an electrical current that splits water molecules into its base components: hydrogen and oxygen. Unlike a traditional internal combustion engine, the only emission from vehicles, planes, and boats fueled with evergreen hydrogen is water vapor.

The new alliance represents organizations from across the state’s green hydrogen value chain - including green hydrogen project developers, aerospace, marine, vehicle manufacturers, utilities, transit agencies, and clean energy advocates. The WGHA Board of Directors includes leaders from Tacoma Power, the Douglas County Public Utility District, Toyota Motor North America, and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. More information, including a full list of the WGHA’s members, can be found at the WGHA’s website at www.wagreenhydrogen.com/about. 

Washington State is growing center for green hydrogen production, innovation, research, jobs, and manufacturing:

• In East Wenatchee, Douglas County Public Utilities District is building the country’s first green hydrogen electrolyzer, with the potential to expand production as the market for green hydrogen grows;
• All American Marine, based in Bellingham Bay, is building the first hydrogen fuel cell vessel in the United States;
• In Renton, PACCAR is manufacturing 10 Kenworth Class 8 hydrogen-powered drayage vehicles;
• Universal Hydrogen is developing the world's first megawatt-class hydrogen fuel cell-based powertrain and has selected Moses Lake as a major zero-carbon hydrogen flight testing and certification center for integrating its powertrain into regional aircraft; 
• Seattle-based engineering firm First Mode is supporting mining company Anglo American in converting diesel-powered trucks to full cell electric vehicles;
• AeroTec is an engineering and certification service provider - with headquarters in Seattle, a Flight Test Center in Moses Lake, and a manufacturing center in Arlington - that has partnered with Universal Hydrogen on the certification process for its hydrogen-powered regional aircraft;
• Everett-based MagniX is partnering with Universal Hydrogen to develop a retrofit conversion kit to a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain for regional aircraft;
• PlugPower, in Spokane Valley, is a Universal Hydrogen partner and is developing, building, and certifying a commercially-viable hydrogen fuel cell-based propulsion system for regional aircraft; and,
• Washington State University’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research Laboratory is the only cryogenic hydrogen research laboratory in U.S. academic research; 
• Tacoma Power created the nation’s first pilot rate to support the production of electrofuels, including green hydrogen; and,
• Twin Transit is partnering with the Port of Chehalis to develop the state’s first hydrogen fueling station for vehicles. 

“Green hydrogen made right here in Washington - (Ever)green hydrogen - is an enormous, zero-carbon opportunity for our climate, air, water, and economy. (Ever)green hydrogen will be our state’s next great industry, right alongside airplanes, apples, coffee, and software,” said Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance Executive Director Tim Zenk. “This is our chance to nurture a new industry here in Washington while helping those beyond our state’s borders to do their part to tackle climate change affordably. I’m grateful to all of the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance members for their commitment to advancing the industry and their support and vision in launching our organization. We look forward to working together to advance responsible policies in Olympia and helping shape Washington’s clean energy future.”

“Green hydrogen is a key component to achieving our region’s climate goals,” said Clay Norris, Power Manager for Tacoma Power and WGHA Board Chair. “I’m excited to be part of this new organization and to support its mission. Hydrogen production has potential to stabilize the electric grid while using surplus clean, renewable energy.”

“The Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance is an excellent partner to help move Evergreen Hydrogen forward in this developing market,” said Gary Ivory, Douglas PUD general manager. “With the abundant clean energy resources Washington has fostered, we are in a prime position to advance this industry as the nation transitions towards a decarbonized environment. Douglas PUD remains committed to being a leader in providing clean energy.”

“As a clean energy producer, FuelCell Energy is excited to be part of Washington’s plan to make the Pacific Northwest an economic and energy leader in green hydrogen,” said FuelCell Energy Chief Executive Officer and President, Jason Few. “We are proud to make Evergreen Hydrogen a nationally recognized model for green, distributed, carbon free hydrogen through our collaboration with members of the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance. Together with other Alliance members, we are excited to prove that a clean hydrogen economy is possible, scalable, and a major economic driver for the region.”

"If the goal is zero emissions, then green hydrogen becomes a necessity to decarbonize many sectors, and we need to start scaling up now," said Evan Ramsey, Sr. Director, Renewables, Bonneville Environmental Foundation. 

Analysts in the United States and around the world have found that the global market for green hydrogen is expected to grow significantly over the next two decades, and that green hydrogen is a necessary step to achieving affordable carbon reductions in transportation, maritime, and heavy industry. In a 2021 analysis, Columbia University found that “Because of the increasing widespread availability and lower cost of solar and wind power, green electrolytic hydrogen is expected to become the most common means of producing hydrogen in the future” and that by 2050, the global market for green hydrogen is expected to reach $12 trillion, while the Atlantic Council found that demand for hydrogen could double in the next two decades. McKinsey & Co. found that “Clean hydrogen offers the only long-term, scalable, and cost effective option for deep decarbonization in sectors such as steel, maritime, aviation, and ammonia.”

Washington State is uniquely positioned to be a global green hydrogen leader. Washington State has abundant supplies of renewable electricity, including electricity from hydropower and wind, one of the nation’s cleanest electricity grids, along with freshwater resources. Washington State also has among the lowest prices of electricity in the nation, ensuring that green hydrogen can be produced affordably in the state. In addition, Washington State has responsible climate and clean energy policies that create investment in clean energy, drive down clean energy prices, and put us on a path to a carbon-free future.

About the Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance 

The Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance (WGHA) works to grow the state’s green hydrogen industry and ensure families and businesses can benefit from an affordable, zero-emission alternative fuel source made in Washington State. Founded in 2021, the WGHA works with its members across the state’s green hydrogen industry - including project developers, aerospace, marine, vehicle manufacturers, utilities, transit agencies, and zero emission vehicle advocates - to ensure that Washington State is a green hydrogen leader. The WGHA advocates for local and state policies that advance Washington’s fossil fuel-free green hydrogen economy and drive innovation, development, and manufacturing. To learn more, visit www.wagreenhydrogen.com.