Vermont Joins Multi-State Effort to Create Clean Hydrogen Hub

ALBANY, N.Y. — Vermont is the latest state to join a collaborative effort to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.

The Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub is a partnership of states and more than 100 other entities who are collaborating with New York state to advance clean hydrogen projects.

The lead agencies in the efforts are the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Power Authority and Empire State Development. 

The plan is that the states — Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island — will develop a proposal to compete to become one of up to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.

In all, about $8 billion is available for the projects through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“New York is pleased to welcome the state of Vermont to a diverse group of partners who have committed to advancing a connected clean hydrogen economy in the Northeast,” Hochul said in a written statement. 

“Adding this elemental resource to our clean energy economy toolbox will advance our collective emissions reduction and climate goals because like our joint effort, air has no borders,” she said.

In related news, Adam Zurofsky has been named New York state’s interim director of the Northeast Regional Hydrogen Hub effort.

In that capacity, he will oversee the process of submitting a final application to the U.S. Department of Energy, working with the partner states and other stakeholders to maximize the impact of the hub and its ability to advance shared priorities. 

Zurofsky previously served as deputy secretary for Energy and Finance for the state of New York and was the founding executive director of Rewiring America, a non-profit dedicated to advancing economically beneficial decarbonization strategies. 

Zurofsky also teaches climate policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

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