Review - S 649 Introduced – Hydrogen Infrastructure

Last month, Sen Cornyn (R,TX) introduced S 649, the Hydrogen Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. The bill would require DOE to conduct a study on pipeline transportation of hydrogen fuels. It would also require DOE to establish a “hydrogen infrastructure finance and innovation pilot program”. The bill would provide $100 million in funding authorization through 2028.

Moving Forward

While Cornyn is not a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to which this bill was assigned for considerations, four of his seven cosponsors {Sen Cassidy (R,LA), Sen Heinrich (D,NM), Sen Murkowski (R,AK), Sen Kelly (D,AZ)} are members of the Committee, so there should be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. Again, beyond the funding issues, I see nothing in this bill that should engender organized opposition. If an agreement could be reached on the spending portion of the bill, I would expect the bill to receive bipartisan support in Committee.

 

For more details about the provisions of the bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-649-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 3-2-23

Yesterday, with just the Senate in session, there were 37 bills introduced. Four of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

S 646 A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish a Hydrogen Technologies for Heavy Industry Demonstration Program, and for other purposes. Coons, Christopher A. [Sen.-D-DE]

S 647 A bill to require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to support the use of hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled equipment at ports and to require the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to conduct a study, together with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Transportation, regarding the feasibility and safety of using hydrogen and ammonia as fuels in maritime applications. Cornyn, John [Sen.-R-TX]

S 648 A bill to require the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish a grant program to demonstrate the performance and reliability of heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source, and for other purposes. Coons, Christopher A. [Sen.-D-DE] 

S 649 A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a hydrogen infrastructure finance and innovation pilot program, and for other purposes. Cornyn, John [Sen.-R-TX]

This is an interesting package of legislation that has obviously been coordinated between Cornyn and Coons. I will be watching these bills for language and definitions that address the security needs of any significant hydrogen technology supporting installation. Hydrogen is one of the DHS chemicals of interest that trigger a Top Screen reporting requirement. It will be interesting to see if this is taken into account in these bills.