The bipartisan group of California lawmakers called on the Trump administration to retain $1.2 billion in federal funds for hydrogen projects to help the state get rid of the planet’s fossil fuel.
The action comes after reports from The Times and other news organizations, the government is preparing to allocate funds to nearly 300 energy ministry projects nationwide, including four of seven emerging “hydrogen hubs.”
These include Arches, or California’s renewable and clean hydrogen systems, a coalition that was granted $1.2 billion in federal funding by the Biden administration, part of developing hydrogen energy nationwide. Arches also plans to earn another $11.2 billion in revenue from private investors.
In a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the lawmakers said the Arch “plays a crucial role in securing U.S. energy advantages, advancing world-leading energy technologies, creating new manufacturing jobs, and reducing energy costs for American households.”
The letter was signed by 47 of the state’s 52 congressional delegates, including four Republicans: Rep. Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), David Valadao (R-Hanford), Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) and Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills). Several sites at the hub are planned for the state’s right-leaning Central Valley.
Two Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of the state also signed it.
The letter comes as reported that Arches are on the DOE’s budget cut list, as well as hundreds of other projects targeting climate-friendly programs.
Doe said the agency is disclosing its disclosures and conducting department-wide reviews and warns of “fake singles”. The Trump administration generally favors the development of fossil fuels rather than clean energy.
The draft list circulated on Capitol Hill and was reviewed in The Times, suggesting that about 80% of the projects were not voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election, including four hydrogen hubs.
Besides California, they include an Atlantic Central, a Pacific Northwest and Midwest hub, all spanning the “blue” countries that tend to vote for the Democratic Party. The list shows that the “Appalachian” and “Heartland” hubs in Republican-oriented red states and regions are safe.
Hydrogen is a promising energy source that produces water vapor instead of carbon dioxide as its by-product, proponents say it can be used to power industries that are difficult to reduce carbonization, such as steel production, manufacturing and transportation.
In their letter, lawmakers described the Arch as a “strategic investment in U.S. energy innovation” and noted that projects originating from the state will be spread statewide, including efforts to replace the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland with Dutch fuel cells equivalents.
“This investment has been used to bring together private businesses, local governments and community organizations to collaborate and build a safe, American-made energy future,” the delegates added.
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce), the area that includes Lancaster, the first city to join the Arch when the Arch was announced, which plans to conduct multiple projects in the area.
“The bipartisan support for the Arches shown in this letter emphasizes its importance to California and the country,” Whitesides wrote in a statement. “I urge the Doe to support this critical program and retain its funds, thus expanding our workforce and economic opportunities.”
As the Trump administration continues to target potential cuts in environmental programs in California and across the country, officials are talking about efforts to reduce regulatory costs, lower taxes and “free up American energy.”
But Democratic insiders say the planned cuts appear to be partisan — especially because California’s hub is the highest-scoring applicant of more than 30 programs considered to be the $7 billion federal program. Its $1.2 billion reward also matches Texas’s red state hub, which is free from cuts.
These seven hydrogen hubs are expected to produce 3 million tons of hydrogen per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25 million tons, which is approximately equal to 5.5 million gasoline-powered vehicles.
“We see Arches as a strategic investment in U.S. energy innovation, a full energy strategy, and energy independence and competitiveness,” the letter said. “We therefore wish to ask you to continue to support Arches and provide time for California Hubs and its member organizations to further demonstrate its crucial role in achieving the government’s energy goals.”
