Rep. Steve Malagari of Montgomery County introduced a resolution urging the Biden administration to designate Southeast PA a hydrogen hub.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A state lawmaker from the region has introduced legislation in Harrisburg that would pave the way for Southeastern Pennsylvania to be designated a ‘hydrogen hub’ for research and industry, which he says would help to create more jobs in the commonwealth.
State Rep. Steve Malagari, D-53, announced Monday that he introduced H.R. 178, which he said would help to create jobs developing carbon-free, clean hydrogen, and also utilize Pennsylvania’s natural resources.
“An important aspect of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act is the emphasis and funding placed on the research, development and transmission of clean energy,” Malagari said in a statement. “The act stipulates for $8 billion in funding to be provided over five years to four regional hubs for the production of clean hydrogen, including research hubs developing technologies aimed at decarbonization and clean energy.”
Malagari, whose district includes municipalities in western Montgomery County, says his resolution would also take advantage of the fact that the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex is located within Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The complex, which is located in Delaware County, is a former Sunoco refinery that has since been repurposed to house natural gas liquids and serve as a transportation and export hub, according to Malagari’s office.
The lawmaker pointed to the fact that Pennsylvania is currently ranked as the second-highest producing natural gas state in the country just behind Texas, and that the commonwealth is poised to make the most of its existing natural resources and transportation hub.
“Though carbon capture retrofits aid our economy and environment now, Pennsylvania should also prioritize being on the front lines for emerging technologies and producing clean hydrogen through electrolysis, which experts expect to be used as a clean energy source for generations to come,” Malagari said in his statement.
Malagari says that most of the hydrogen currently being produced in the country is made through natural gas reforming, which uses existing natural gas infrastructure to help decrease petroleum use and emissions while at the same time providing hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles.
Legislative records from Harrisburg show that the resolution was referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee last week.
The resolution currently has 14 cosponsors.
Source: Patch
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