By Rep. Dan Newhouse
The Pacific Northwest stands at a pivotal crossroads when it comes to the future of energy. Blessed with an abundance of hydropower resources, the region has an unparalleled opportunity to lead the nation in developing a hydrogen economy. By leveraging both its hydroelectric resources and heavy industry sectors, the PNW can create a new wave of economic prosperity and develop a regional energy hub that will benefit local industry and consumers.
Hydrogen is a critical component of our energy future. Clean hydrogen made from hydropower provides carbon-free energy that can be used to power a range of hard-to-abate sectors. Hydrogen presents a unique opportunity for Washington as it can fuel heavy transportation sectors like trucking and aviation, support our seaports and cargo handling capabilities, and provide energy for generators, data centers, and refineries. Hydrogen also serves as a key molecule in producing clean fuels and chemicals like ammonia and fertilizer.
The Pacific Northwest is uniquely positioned to lead in hydrogen production because of its reliable substantial hydroelectric infrastructure. The Columbia River Basin, home to the Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams, generates some of the cheapest and cleanest electricity in the country, which presents a golden opportunity: excess hydropower, which might otherwise be curtailed, can be directed toward hydrogen. This would ensure that the region fully utilizes its renewable energy assets while producing an efficient, storable, and transportable fuel source – a true energy abundance solution.
A hydrogen economy in our region would also deliver significant public benefits by creating thousands of new jobs in engineering, infrastructure development, and manufacturing. Rural communities would see revitalization through investments in hydrogen production plants and distribution networks. The region's ports, including those in Seattle and Portland, could become global hubs for hydrogen and derivative exports, supplying clean fuel to international markets.
The Hydrogen Hub program provides a significant boost to critical regional initiatives, and the Trump Administration has been a strong supporter of moving hydropower to a more prominent position in its energy dominance agenda. The development of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub will support the administration’s focus on energy independence and domestic energy production. On the state level, Republican legislators led by State Senate Leader John Braun recently sent a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright outlining how the hydrogen industry can boost economic growth throughout our region, and the United States.
Our hub has earned support from multinational investors like Amazon and PACCAR, while securing billions of foreign direct investments within the region from companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Air Liquide, AltaGas, and Atlas Agro in the Tri-Cities. These companies, among others in the region, will leverage more than $5 Billion for the federal government’s $1 Billion investment. These investments will help to secure a reliable, resilient domestic energy supply for years to come while providing jobs and economic development throughout the region.
Ultimately, harnessing hydropower to develop a hydrogen economy is a logical and necessary step for the Pacific Northwest. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capitalize on energy technology, drive sustainable economic growth, and establish the region as a leader in the push to create new jobs and increase efficiency and sustainability for carbon intensive industries. I will continue to work with the Trump Administration to make this vision a reality while the opportunity is before us.
