Will government rules hinder green hydrogen?

The green hydrogen industry in the United States is at a critical juncture. 

After months of input and debate, the government put out draft rules for tax credits at the end of last year — setting firm requirements for matching new, local renewables to hydrogen production.

It was seen by many as a big step for ensuring that green hydrogen is actually green. But across the industry, the reaction was more mixed — even among those who want to make the industry as clean as possible. Many projects have already been canceled.

The tax credit guidelines will be finalized this summer. And in the meantime, there’s a looming question: will strict rules derail the market before it gets started, or will they make it better long-term? Or both?

In this installment, we have a double-header: Editor Lisa Martine Jenkins presents two features from the pages of Latitude Media on how the U.S. green hydrogen industry is responding to new rules and canceling some projects.