On March 21, APGA submitted comments to the Department of Energy (DOE) responding to their request for information (RFI) on clean hydrogen hub implementation. In the feedback provided, APGA stressed that public natural gas utilities provide energy to a variety of customers, such as homes, businesses, and small industries. The utilities aim to continue this mission and are happy to seek out ways to decarbonize the energy delivered.
One of the questions from the RFI asks about repurposing fossil fuel infrastructure. When thinking about natural gas pipelines, they can be used now to transport some percentages of hydrogen and are ripe to be repurposed to move higher blends of hydrogen or pure hydrogen in the future. APGA strongly urged DOE to acknowledge this and commit to utilizing existing pipeline infrastructure. This asset has been invested in for decades and should be a part of America’s clean energy future, which includes transporting low-carbon fuels like hydrogen.
APGA also noted concern with one question from the RFI, “should DOE incentivize an eventual transition from fossil fuels to another fuel source?” First, it is unclear to APGA what authority DOE has to incentivize moving away from one energy source to another. Second, the federal government should consider all the effects of such a transition on Americans, such as by weighing the impact on affordability against environmental benefits. APGA also asked DOE to acknowledge that utilizing existing natural gas infrastructure and workforce in the hydrogen hub implementation will accomplish the desired Equity, Environmental and Energy Justice (EEEJ) Priorities. While it is likely new or retrofitted pipelines will be needed, the existing network can be utilized extensively, minimizing the impacts of new construction on vulnerable communities. As well, APGA members are committed to hiring a diverse workforce, who could be an important part of hydrogen hub implementation.
APGA members are not-for-profit, so they are committed to providing energy to their local businesses, industries, and residential customers at the most affordable price. When developing a hydrogen hub, keeping the energy provided affordable should be as important as generating environmental benefits, ensuring low-income families are protected. This balance is a priority for public natural gas utilities, who believe no segment of the population should bear unreasonable costs to power their home or business.
To see APGA’s comments,
click here.
For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.