On Thursday, February 17th, I was pleased and proud to provide written and oral testimony before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The hearing, convened by the Subcommittee on Energy, explored questions around how hydrogen can expedite the energy transition, decarbonize the U.S., and create both jobs and opportunities for economic development. The discussion focused on how federal investment in innovation can help to catalyze all of the above, and also ranged from topics on climate equity to global competition.

My assertion: hydrogen has immense potential to deliver clean energy throughout the economy—especially in areas like industry and heavy-duty transportation that are hard to decarbonize. It can stimulate growth and trade, and reduce both conventional and carbon pollution economically and equitably. To do so will require investment in innovation - starting with and expanding upon the historic $9.5 billion of investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—from novel materials to integrated systems. It also requires close attention to emerging challenges like risk of leakage, development of human capital, and infrastructure build out.

As Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct, I was profoundly honored to serve on a panel with distinguished experts from industry, academia, government, and civil society, placing science at the forefront of these important national subjects. I was impressed with the Committee itself, whose members are deeply interested in these complicated subjects, and their sustained presence and interest throughout the hours of the testimony itself. And in sharing this testimony here, I hope to continue to underscore the extraordinary opportunity that awaits in hydrogen production, one that will help to secure clean energy for decades to come in the realization of climate goals.

Read the full congressional testimony.