Last week, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. helped bring back two bills “that would encourage hydrogen, a cleaner fuel source, in heavy-duty transportation.”
Bilirakis and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., are working on the two proposals. Porter introduced both bills with Bilirakis as the only co-sponsor so far.
“The Hydrogen for Trucks Act would incentivize heavy-duty vehicle owner-operators to purchase hydrogen trucks and fueling infrastructure, while the Hydrogen for Ports Act would promote the use of hydrogen-fueled equipment at ports and in shipping applications,” Bilirakis’ office noted
“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,” said Bilirakis. “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.”
“California leads the nation in clean energy research, so Californians know firsthand how investing in the technology of tomorrow strengthens our economy while safeguarding our environment for future generations,” said Porter. “Hydrogen is a promising, clean fuel source for industries that struggle to find reliable clean-energy alternatives, like trucking and maritime shipping. Our bipartisan bills would advance innovation in hydrogen technologies, making our economy more resilient and globally competitive.”
The Florida congressman’s office offered some of the reasons why he was backing the two bills.
“Hydrogen is versatile and does not emit greenhouse gasses at the point of use. This is important for sectors like ground and maritime shipping. However, early adopters of hydrogen face cost barriers and other risks. Federal support can help entrepreneurs overcome these challenges, which can jumpstart a robust hydrogen economy in the United States. Heavy-duty vehicles contribute nearly a quarter of all transportation greenhouse gas emissions, despite accounting for only a small fraction of vehicles on the road. In contrast, hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions, providing an opportunity for cleaner forms of transportation without sacrificing reliability or range. The Hydrogen for Trucks Act would provide financial support to fleet owners and operators looking to make the switch to zero-emission vehicles. The bill would also provide data and benchmarks for different types of fleet operations, thereby incentivizing private investment and accelerating deployment. Ports are well-suited to be early adopters of hydrogen fuel, with different kinds of vehicles in a single location that can share hydrogen infrastructure. The Hydrogen for Ports Act would promote hydrogen- and ammonia-fueled equipment at ports and in shipping applications,” Bilirakis’ office noted.
The Hydrogen for Trucks Act was sent to the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The Hydrogen for Ports Act was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. So far, there are no companion measures over in the U.S. Senate.
