Trump Administration Axes $1 Billion Hydrogen Hub Grant, Jeopardizing Oregon and Washington Jobs

A $1 billion federal grant, part of the 2021 Infrastructure Bill, intended to fund hydrogen clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest, has been cancelled by the Trump Administration, a decision that has been criticized for the potential consequences.

Pacific Northwest Clean Energy Grant Cancelled

The 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the 2021 Infrastructure Bill, was signed into law in November 2021 under former President Joe Biden, after being championed by Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The now-canceled 2021 Infrastructure Bill grant accounted for 20% of the funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s projects.

The Pacific Northwest projects are designed to produce, store, transport, and use hydrogen in industries such as agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure. Hydrogen, alongside solar, wind, batteries, and biofuels, is key to the transition to clean energy and decarbonization.

The cancellation will cause some projects to stall and others to face setbacks. It will have significant implications for the region’s clean energy initiatives.

The “Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub” was initially expected to create over 10,000 direct jobs —8,050 in construction and 350 permanent.

The Trump administration’s cancellation of the grant has put those jobs at risk. The hub was designated as one of seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs by the Department of Energy. It was projected to leverage over $5 billion in local investments.