Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has expressed serious concerns about the Biden administration's selection process for hydrogen hubs. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing, Cassidy criticized the administration for favoring states with little or no history of hydrogen production and industry need/use, while snubbing Louisiana's joint application with Arkansas and Oklahoma.

"I'm worried the fix was in before it actually started," said Dr. Cassidy. He pointed out that 11 of the 16 states selected for hydrogen hubs are represented by Democratic senators, even though they lack the production history and infrastructure that Louisiana possesses. Cassidy questioned the fairness of the process and asked, "Tell me why I should have faith in this process."

The Biden administration awarded $7 billion to establish hydrogen hubs in various states, including California, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Texas. However, Louisiana did not receive an interview and there is no evidence to suggest that the administration reviewed their application. Cassidy highlighted the discrepancy, stating, "You look at other places without our ecosystem, without our infrastructure, they did get it. That's why I'm like 'woah' the place with all the infrastructure got one [hub] and it's otherwise scattered around a lot of states disproportionately represented by Democrats."

Louisiana showcased a significant demand for hydrogen in their application, demonstrating a need greater than double the hydrogen that would be produced by the selected hub. In response to the lack of transparency, Cassidy plans to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to gain access to all documents related to Louisiana's application and ensure adequate oversight.

The Department of Energy, which awarded the hydrogen hubs, has announced plans to use $1 billion to stimulate the use of hydrogen. This decision is based on the fact that the selected hubs do not currently have a high demand for this energy source.

Senator Cassidy's concerns shed light on potential political biases in the selection process for hydrogen hubs. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address these concerns and ensure transparency and fairness in future funding decisions.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-calls-out-biden-administration-for-fishy-hydrogen-hub-selection-process