07/19/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/19/2024 10:04
This week, California's Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a $12.6 billion agreement to build and expand clean energy infrastructure across California.
The agreement will fund the creation of regional networks that produce renewable hydrogen as an energy source for manufacturing, cars and generating electricity, while reducing California's reliance on fossil fuels.
ARCHES was one of seven awardees of the DOE's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs)-a program funded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to catalyze a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers and connective infrastructure.
ARCHES is the first of the seven H2Hubs to officially sign their agreement with the DOE.
The $12.6 billion agreement includes $1.2 billion from the DOE and $11.4 billion in public and private matching funds.
At full build out, it is estimated that ARCHES DOE projects will create an estimated 220,000 new jobs, including 130,000 in construction and 90,000 permanent jobs. The projects also will cut up to 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year-the equivalent to the pollution of 445,000 gasoline-powered cars annually. This would result in $2.95 billion per year in decreased health care costs due to improved air quality, particularly along transportation corridors, according to ARCHES.
ARCHES projects will span statewide, covering the full hydrogen lifecycle from production to use, including, but not limited to:
ARCHES is a statewide public-private partnership designed to accelerate renewable hydrogen's contribution to decarbonizing California's economy. Founded by the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, the University of California system, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and the Renewables 100 Policy Institute, ARCHES brings together state agencies, academia, industry leaders, and community organizations to advance renewable hydrogen technologies and infrastructure.