Illinois Congressman Sorensen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand the Use of Hydrogen
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), alongside Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) introduced the bipartisan Hydrogen for Industry Act, which creates a program for hydrogen to be used to produce building materials such as steel, cement, glass, chemicals, and fuel.
Hydrogen energy will play an important role as we transition the industrial and transportation sectors to a carbon net-zero future. Through promoting use of hydrogen, the United States can reduce pollution, lower costs for consumers, and help our nation remain competitive in the growing hydrogen economy.
“The energy that we produce here in Central and Northwestern Illinois powers our nation and world,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “It is important that as industries continue to grow, we provide them with the tools they need to thrive. Our bipartisan Hydrogen for Industry Act makes sure that we expand the use of hydrogen across the United States so we can keep our air, water, and environment clean all while we create, good-paying, sustainable jobs that will take us into the future. And when we support opportunities to use alternative sources of energy, we lower costs for working families and businesses. I am grateful for the bipartisan support of my House colleagues as we introduce this legislation and look forward to working to get this bill signed into law.”
The Department of Energy will establish regional hydrogen hubs across the nation. The seven regional clean hydrogen hubs will deliver more than $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs – bringing the total public and private investment in hydrogen hubs to nearly $50 billion.
Last October, Illinois was awarded $1 billion in federal funding for the Midwest Hydrogen Hub, which provides the state resources to decarbonize through hydrogen use, reducing carbon emissions by roughly 3.9 million metric tons per year.
“Investing in 21st century energy infrastructure will create good-paying jobs while helping us meet critical emissions reduction targets,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “I’m proud to champion the Hydrogen for Industry Act to help Illinois businesses take advantage of clean hydrogen energy, as well as decarbonize heavy industry to grow the next generation of manufacturing in Central and Southern Illinois. This bipartisan legislation will build on the recent $1 billion federal investment in the Midwest’s MachH2 Regional Hydrogen Hub, cementing Illinois as a leader in renewable energy innovation that will be an economic boon for our communities for decades to come.”
“We want to ensure we leave a better future for generations,” said Congressman Don Bacon. “The Hydrogen for Industry Act establishes a commercial-scale program for hydrogen to produce steel, cement, glass, chemicals, and fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel. This legislation can lead to discoveries that could help our future in energy.”
“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to provide funds for demonstration projects that will showcase hydrogen’s ability to decarbonize the manufacturing, transportation, and agricultural industries,” said Congressman Jim Costa. “Sustained investment in hydrogen is necessary to bolster U.S. energy independence and further efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035.”
Eric Sorensen
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized $8 billion to develop large-scale hydrogen production programs across the country. The Hydrogen for Industry Act builds on this law to support the development of hydrogen as an emissions reduction solution across industries. The bill:
- Establishes a commercial-scale demonstration program for hydrogen use in heavy industry.
- Provides competitive grants to hydrogen demonstrations in industries such as iron and steel, cement, chemicals, refining, among other industrial products.
- Directs the Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation to jointly conduct a study on the impact, cost, and safety.
“LanzaTech supports this important bipartisan legislation to spur clean hydrogen production and use to reduce industrial emissions,” said Tom Dower, Vice President of Public Policy for LanzaTech. “As an innovative US-based carbon recycling company, we are excited about the opportunity to use clean hydrogen in our gas fermentation process to drive further carbon reductions in hard-to-abate sectors.”
“We applaud the leadership of Congressman Sorensen, Congressman Molinaro, Congresswoman Budzinski, Congressman Bacon, and Congressman Costa on introducing the Hydrogen for Industry Act to advance the deployment of hydrogen technologies across our economy,” said Frank Wolak, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association. “This bipartisan legislation is a clear recognition that hydrogen will play a critical role in driving decarbonization, particularly for heavy-industry sectors such as steel and cement, all while also enhancing our economy by creating thousands of good-paying jobs and encourage private investment here in America.”
The bipartisan Senate version of the bill, S.646, the Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2023, was introduced on March 2, 2023, by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).
