Advocacy
The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council advocates for the research, deployment, and adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technologies and their associated infrastructure.
Karl Gnadt Testifies at IRS Hearing
On March 25, 2024, Karl Gnadt testified in front of industry stakeholders at an IRS hearing on the implementation of the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.
Testifying on behalf of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council, Karl was the only representative at the in-person hearing from a unit of government. There were 44 other participants from private industry and trade associations. Some testified in favor of relaxing the hourly matching and additionality policies proposed by the Administration, and others supporting the strict rules as proposed.
Karl's testimony focused on the need to instigate fuel production now, with goals for "greening" the process becoming important in future years as more facilities come online and distribution infrastructure improves. Citing the Congressional intent of the Inflation Reduction Act, Karl advocated for streamlined verification and tax credit application procedures for hydrogen producers who are either units of local government or those that produce less than 1 MW/year. This would allow smaller producers to receive the credit without needing to tie their projects to new renewable energy generation, incentivizing those producers to invest in hydrogen production to serve local or regional markets.
Joint Procurement
The Council submitted a letter to the Department of Energy discussing opportunities for joint procurement at Hydrogen Hubs. Our letter urged the Department of Energy to encourage the Hubs to coordinate joint fuel procurements for transit agencies and local governments in their respective regions in hopes of lowering fuel costs and establishing a reliable and accessible market for hydrogen fuel. Read the full letter here.
Capital Investment Grant Program Comments
The HFCBC submitted comments on updated rules affecting the Capital Investment Grant program. The proposed rules affect how the use of low-emission and no-emission bus technologies factor into cost competitiveness considerations. Our comments advocate for a technology-neutral approach to zero-emission busses and to update bus cost calculations. Read the full letter here.
45V Tax Credit Comments
The HFCBC submitted comments on the proposed rules affecting the 45V tax credit’s clean hydrogen provisions. The HFCBC hopes this program will spur investment in hydrogen production, lowering the cost of hydrogen for our members and all transit agencies using hydrogen buses. Read the comments here.
Demand-Side Support Mechanism
In response to a Notice of Intent published by the Department of Energy on July 5, 2023, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council submitted comments expressing the market potential for hydrogen offtakers in the transit industry. Economic research suggests that market failures on the demand-side, if they emerge, can slow the development of innovative technologies. Transit agencies are uniquely positioned to provide reliable demand for hydrogen producers and suppliers because of their consistent routes and long-term vehicle usage. Click here to read the letter from HFCBC.
The Price of Hydrogen
The HFCBC released a statement on why the price of hydrogen matters today. Transit agencies’ small budgets leave them with little room to absorb higher fuel costs. As a result, they may be forced to delay their adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology if prices do not fall. Read the full letter here.
FY24 Appropriations Request
Working through the FY 2024 Congressional appropriations process, the HFCBC seeks to raise awareness among Members about the benefits of hydrogen use overall and by encouraging Congress to support the inclusion of hydrogen fuel cell buses in our nation’s transit fleets, via a proposed in a $30 million investment request that would support innovative approaches to mobility, with $15 million of that amount aimed towards hydrogen technology.
The Hydrogen Production Tax Credit
An HFCBC statement created on the Hydrogen Production Tax Credit recently got some attention in the news. See the statement, posted here.
Endorsement of Hydrogen Legislative Package
In March 2023, Senator Coons (D-DE) reintroduced the Hydrogen for Trucks Act legislation, building on the Hydrogen Infrastructure Initiative with Sen. Cornyn, that establishes a grant program to demonstrate the performance and reliability of heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source. HFCBC has formally endorsed this proposal and are encouraged by the inclusion of hydrogen fuel cell buses as eligible applicants for this program.
Transit’s Role in Hydrogen Hubs
As part of an effort to secure funding for hydrogen through Department of Energy programs, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council (HFCBC) wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Energy to highlight the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell buses as a component of the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program (H2Hubs). Access the letter here.