Gov. Kathy Hochul wants New York to become a green hydrogen hub and is counting on fuel cell microgrids to help it get there. The hydrogen plan is contained within New York’s 2022 State of the State book, released Jan. 5 when Hochul delivered the annual address. “Just days after being sworn into office, we were slammed with Hurricane Ida. I walked the flooded streets of East Elmhurst, Queens, and witnessed the aftermath of an epic collision between Mother Nature and our inferior infrastructure, with devastating consequences,” Hochul said in the state of the state address. “It was a cruel reminder that too much time has already been lost in the fight against climate change. These events are no longer rare – the next one is coming.”

Under the plan, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will develop a program to support locally owned microgrids that use green hydrogen fuel cells. The microgrids will be designed to replace backup generators that create pollution in low-income neighborhoods. “Made from renewable energy right here in New York, green hydrogen releases zero greenhouse gas emissions when used in a fuel cell, yet it is strong enough to power a forklift, long-distance semi-truck, or even entire neighborhoods via a microgrid,” says the State of the State […]