With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California legislators are debating how much state money should support them.
Without their votes, a funding bill for the Clean Transportation Program likely won’t pass.
Become a CalMatters member today to stay informed, bolster our nonpartisan news and expand knowledge across California.“The Clean Transportation Program is — not to be too dorky about it — a beautiful market signal,” said Hannon Rasool, director of the Energy Commission’s fuels and transportation division. “It tells folks we’re committed, we’re in it for the long run and here’s a steady amount of funding.
“If we’re not able to reach an agreement, and it lapses or sunsets, it’ll be almost impossible to get a new bill through,” Reyes said. “So having it reauthorized is extremely important.” Automakers opposed the bill because fees paid by car owners would be used in part to fund fueling stations for trucks.
Energy companies are also experimenting with capturing emissions from the natural gas process and then storing those emissions underground. But those carbon-capture techniques are not yet widespread. In a statement to CalMatters, Rubio reiterated a widely cited industry finding that the U.S. hydrogen industry has the potential to create $140 billion per year in revenue and support 700,000 jobs by 2030.
“We know that hydrogen has to be part of the future for medium-duty vehicles,” Irwin said. “So why not continue to invest in hydrogen stations that can accommodate both medium and light-duty? I think that's a really smart investment that hedges our bets.”
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