National Association of State Energy Officials releases two publications on clean hydrogen

For use by state and territory energy offices, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and Breakthrough Energy this week released two new tools on the topic of clean hydrogen.

Respectively, these tools were the Developing Clean Hydrogen State Roadmaps publication and State Strategies to Develop and Support the Emerging Clean Hydrogen Workforce. The former acted as an overview of current state-led clean hydrogen roadmaps, reports and studies, coupled with guidance to replicate a working process in other states. Meanwhile, the latter offered tools for state energy offices to use in support of a clean hydrogen workforce and double down on job opportunities and economic development benefits.

In Developing Clean Hydrogen State Roadmaps, authors provided a means of states to outline possible policy, regulation and programs related to hydrogen research, development and demonstration. Such roadmaps consisted of 10 steps, beginning with the establishment of scopes and requirements, then building up to the monitoring of progress and ongoing updates. Connecticut’s approach to a study was particularly highlighted therein, but the authors noted that the process would look different from state to state.

In the second tool, authors cited the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) own statistics to note that a growing hydrogen economy could produce around 100,000 new direct and indirect jobs by 2030, supporting the development of new projects and infrastructure. To achieve this, they sought to maximize state energy offices’ capabilities by spurring them to assess current and future job demand and training needs, growing partnerships with employers and other partners, as well as investing in programs that expand access to related careers for historically underserved groups.

Both tools were developed with help and insight from the NASEO Clean Hydrogen State Working Group.