Two bicameral bills were introduced in Congress on March 11 to incentivize the maritime and shipping industries to transition to hydrogen power.
“As we grapple with energy affordability and our responsibilities to the future, we need to encourage energy innovation and pursue an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach,” Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) said in a statement. “Hydrogen fuel cell technology is a promising solution, and our bipartisan bill will better enable Americans and small businesses to harness the full potential of this reliable resource.”
Bilirakis and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) introduced the House bills, while companion bills were introduced by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the Senate.
The Hydrogen for Trucks Act would support owner-operators of heavy-duty vehicles to purchase hydrogen-powered trucks and fueling infrastructure. The Hydrogen for Ports Act would encourage the use of hydrogen- and ammonia-fueled equipment at ports and other shipping applications.
Lawmakers said heavy-duty vehicles are causing almost a quarter of all transportation greenhouse gas emissions, and transitioning to hydrogen power could reduce emissions.
“Hydrogen provides clean fuel and reliable storage opportunities, both of which are essential to reducing carbon emissions in sectors that are hard to electrify,” Porter said in the statement.
According to the statement, one of hydrogen’s main characteristics is its versatility, with hydro-vehicles producing zero tailpipe emissions, which allows for cleaner transportation without compromising reliability and travel range as in the case of electric vehicles.
Given the high initial expense to switch over from gas-powered trucks, the truck-focused bill would provide financial support to make it easier for truck owners and operators to start and expand hydrogen-powered operations.
Shipping ports are also good places to adopt hydrogen fuel, given that different kinds of equipment and vehicles at one port can all share hydrogen infrastructure. The port-based bill will also promote ammonia-fueled equipment at ports and other shipping applications.
“It’s more important now than ever for the United States to continue to diversify our energy sources,” Coons said. “Hydrogen is a promising, low-carbon fuel source that has the potential to provide reliable energy for key sectors—including heavy-duty trucking—but early federal support will be critical to widespread adoption.”
