Lancaster join ARCHES

Lancaster has joined with industry, government, and academic stakeholders from across California to launch the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), the state’s public-private hydrogen (H2) hub consortium to accelerate the development and deployment of renewable H2 projects and infrastructure, city of officials announced.

The governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the University of California will lead the development of the ARCHES proposal for the Department of Energy Regional (DOE) Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program, which was passed by the federal government under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

“The city of Lancaster is excited to join the ARCHES H2Hubs collaboration and partner to bring federal funding to accelerate the role hydrogen will play in decarbonizing California’s economy,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “As the nation’s first hydrogen city, we have already started developing cutting-edge hydrogen projects across Lancaster. ”

The DOE H2Hubs Program seeks to demonstrate the production, distribution, and end uses of hydrogen across the United States. DOE anticipates 6-10 hubs to be funded under the program, demonstrating different production methods and uses, including transportation, power generation, heating, and industrial.

The ARCHES hub plans to demonstrate renewable hydrogen production for multiple uses across the economy. In addition to the technical requirements under the H2Hubs program, each proposal must demonstrate collaboration and engagement within communities, labor, and environmental justice.

[Information via news release from the city of Lancaster.]

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