Trump administration cancels $1 billion clean energy grant for Pacific Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Trump administration has canceled a $1 billion federal grant intended to fund hydrogen clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest, a move that has significant implications for the region's clean energy initiatives.

The grant, which was part of the 2021 Infrastructure Bill, accounted for 20% of the funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association's projects.

Chris Green, president of the association, highlighted the impact, stating, "We had a project that's going to use green hydrogen to make fertilizer. So you're displacing some of the natural gas and fossil-based products that go into fertilizer and creating a green product that has huge demand in Oregon and Washington and the Northwest, where we import all of our fertilizer currently from sometimes pretty far away places."

The projects, spread across the Pacific Northwest, focus on producing, storing, transporting, and utilizing hydrogen in industries such as agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure.

While some projects may continue, others face setbacks. Green emphasized the importance of hydrogen in transitioning to clean energy and decarbonization, noting its role alongside solar, wind, batteries, and biofuels.

The cancellation has drawn criticism from U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, who described the decision as "unprecedented and corrupt."

She vowed to fight for the restoration of funds, emphasizing the potential loss of over 10,000 jobs across the region.

The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, which had been designated as one of seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs by the Department of Energy, was expected to leverage over $5 billion in local investments.