California’s Hydrogen Goals

Hydrogen as a clean energy source will play a key role in decarbonizing our economy – particularly for hard-to-abate sectors such as transportation, ports and goods movement, and energy storage and resilience.

California has long been at the forefront of the clean energy transition – and hydrogen is no exception. With the goal of 200 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025, the #1 fuel cell market in the U.S. , and numerous ongoing hydrogen production and research projects, California is well equipped to lead the hydrogen market in the U.S.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocated $8 billion dollars for the development of regional clean hydrogen hubs as part of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program. GO-Biz is a founding member of California’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a public-private partnership that was selected to negotiate for up to $1.2 billion from the US Department of Energy to implement a California clean hydrogen hub to accelerate the adoption and production of clean hydrogen technology in the state.

Please note that the hydrogen hubs project is evolving and ongoing. Visit the ARCHES H2 website for updates and announcements as the project develops.

California’s Hydrogen Market Development Strategy

Renewable hydrogen will play a pivotal role in achieving California’s climate goals by cutting emissions in difficult to decarbonize sectors. California’s Hydrogen Market Development Strategy will engage stakeholders and all segments of government in close partnership with the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), to jump start the budding clean hydrogen economy. GO-Biz is encouraging stakeholders to provide input that will inform and improve the development of the strategy.

Join California’s H2 Hub Development Effort

GO-Biz, the University of California, Renewables 100, and the State Building Trades Council of California, with support from hundreds of partners, launched the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) as a non-profit public private partnership dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of California’s renewable hydrogen market. ARCHES’ first task is to lead California’s effort to secure federal funding under the DOE’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub Program. If you are interested in learning more and contributing, please visit ARCHES.

California’s ZEV Market Development Strategy

Hydrogen vehicles play a key in California’s zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) portfolio. GO-Biz has a team specifically focused on the role of ZEVs in decarbonizing our economy and expanding the ZEV market for both fuel cell and battery-electric vehicles in California.

California Selected as a National Hydrogen Hub
On October 13th, 2023, California received notification that the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) will receive up to $1.2 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the development and deployment of clean renewable hydrogen, critical to cutting pollution and expanding the clean energy economy statewide.

Governor Newsom Announces New Strategy to Develop a Hydrogen Economy of the Future
Published: Aug 08, 2023: SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to develop California’s Hydrogen Market Development Strategy, employing an all-of-government approach to building up California’s clean, renewable hydrogen market. It will closely resemble the Zero-Emission Vehicle Market Development Strategy to help California collectively move forward and deliver zero-emission benefits to all Californians.

California Submits Application to U.S. Department of Energy for Federal Funding to Become a National Hydrogen (H2) Hub
On April 7th, 2023, the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) submitted an application to the United States Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the Biden Administration’s Hydrogen Earth Shot Challenge. ARCHES is the official applicant and organizer for California’s proposal to bring a statewide Department of Energy H2 hub to the Golden State.

California Launches Statewide Alliance to Establish Federally Co-Funded Hydrogen Hub
Long Beach, CA – Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), Labor, Renewables 100, alongside state and local officials, formally announced the formation of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a shared not-for-profit LLC public-private partnership designed to accelerate hydrogen’s contribution to decarbonizing the economy in California and beyond.