However, hydrogen has sparked significant debate within environmental justice communities. More than 140 environmental justice groups have raised alarms through public letters, citing concerns that hydrogen might extend reliance on fossil fuels, pose safety hazards, and worsen local air pollution. When the H2Hubs program was introduced, applicants were required to submit a Community Benefits Plan (CBP) outlining how their projects would benefit underserved, Tribal, labor, and environmental justice communities. Now that the program is in motion, many environmental justice advocates are frustrated, arguing that they are not yet seeing meaningful action on the CBP process.
True community engagement is a multifaceted and critical endeavor. It involves building relationships and trust among impacted communities, project developers, partners, and government officials. For hydrogen hub projects to be genuinely successful, community input must be integral to shaping outcomes, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of local communities are not just heard but acted on.
The Allure of Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the universe’s most abundant element and holds enormous potential as a clean energy source for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, transportation, and power generation. In industries like steel, cement, and chemicals, where traditional carbon reduction methods fall short, hydrogen can serve as a critical alternative fuel and feedstock, reducing reliance on unabated fossil fuels and cutting carbon emissions significantly. In transportation, particularly in long-haul trucking, shipping, and aviation, hydrogen fuel cells offer a zero-emission solution, avoiding the limitations of battery storage and recharging times. Additionally, hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in power plants, providing a flexible and clean energy source that complements intermittent renewable energy like wind and solar, thereby supporting a more resilient and sustainable energy grid.
Environmental Justice Views on Hydrogen
Environmental justice (EJ) groups play a crucial role in advocating for and protecting marginalized communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. These groups work to ensure that the voices of underrepresented populations are heard in policy-making processes and that their communities are safeguarded against pollution, hazardous waste, and other environmental risks. EJ groups actively engage in grassroots organizing, public education, and litigation to combat environmental injustices. Through their efforts, EJ groups help build resilience in marginalized communities, empowering them to fight for their health, safety, and well-being.
Recent research reveals a complex landscape of EJ community views on hydrogen. While many EJ groups support green hydrogen, which is produced with electricity made from renewable resources, they express serious reservations about producing hydrogen via other mechanisms (e.g., blue hydrogen, which is made with natural gas equipped with carbon capture and sequestration) and significant concerns about its broader implications. These concerns include the potential for hydrogen to extend dependence on fossil fuels, risks of explosions, and contributions to local air pollution.
In addition, EJ groups have shown skepticism toward the CBP process, doubting its effectiveness in addressing these major concerns. Those EJ groups involved with the H2Hubs selectees are particularly critical of the CBP process, viewing it as insufficient for enhancing community decision-making or ensuring fair outcomes.
Despite these reservations, there is a nuanced perspective within EJ communities. Indeed, there is a notable difference between how people who live in EJ communities perceive hydrogen (more positively) and how those working in formalized EJ groups see hydrogen (more negatively). This difference is often attributed to varying degrees of familiarity with hydrogen technologies and the influence of misinformation. EJ groups believe that increased education and accurate information could shift these perceptions.
Engaging Communities Effectively Through Regular, Targeted Communication
For the H2Hubs program to effectively address EJ community concerns, robust community engagement is indispensable. Several strategies should be employed to ensure that community voices are heard and their needs are met. Although each community has its unique context, research shows a surprising consistency nationwide in how people want to be approached by hydrogen hub developers. Representatives from Tribal, labor, disadvantaged, and EJ communities have outlined some clear preferences. They suggest that developers should:
- Use diverse engagement methods: This includes citizen panels—groups of representative residents meeting periodically to make recommendations—and public hearings, which are formal, in-person meetings allowing people to voice their opinions.
- Initiate contact at community centers or directly at people’s homes.
- Communicate via email or text to keep community members in the loop.
- Reach out weekly throughout the project’s life to maintain a steady flow of information and engagement.
- Create a trustworthy and safe environment for all interactions.
- Provide access to free Wi-Fi and devices like laptops, ensuring everyone can participate fully.
This approach helps build a strong, ongoing relationship with the community, leading to more equitable outcomes. One thing is clear—if we are going to do this right, we must center the needs and voices of frontline communities—those hit hardest by environmental and energy issues.
Binding Agreements: The Backbone of Equitable Hydrogen Development
The main way to ensure that communities are centered in the H2Hubs program is by creating binding agreements. Binding agreements serve as formal commitments that can help ensure projects are executed responsibly and deliver tangible benefits to communities. These agreements are legally enforceable contracts between project developers and various stakeholders, including local communities, government entities, and other involved parties. Their primary purpose is to define clear obligations, timelines, and deliverables, thereby fostering trust and accountability. While these agreements are not mandatory according to the DOE, they are seen as the “gold star” of community engagement. Plus, in times of potential political changes, binding agreements offer durable commitments that can withstand shifts in presidential administrations.
To illustrate, let’s look at what might be included in a binding agreement for a hydrogen hub project. These agreements typically cover a range of areas, such as environmental safeguards, employment opportunities, and safety protocols. For instance, a developer might commit to specific emission reduction targets, ensuring that the project aligns with broader environmental goals. Additionally, the agreement could include provisions for hiring local labor, offering training programs, and investing in community infrastructure, such as schools or health care facilities.
An example of a binding agreement in action is the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). CBAs are contracts between developers and community groups that detail the benefits the community will receive in exchange for their support of the project. For hydrogen hubs, safety is a paramount concern with hydrogen projects due to the potential risks associated with hydrogen storage and transport. Therefore, a CBA might include general public safety education, detailed safety protocols, regular safety drills, and emergency response plans developed in collaboration with local authorities and community representatives.
Moreover, CBAs can serve as tools for fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration between developers and communities. Establishing regular meetings, feedback mechanisms, and oversight committees can help ensure that the project remains aligned with community expectations and can adapt to any changing circumstances or concerns.
One real-world instance where CBAs have been effectively used is in the development of the Vineyard Wind project, the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States, located off the coast of Massachusetts. This CBA involved commitments to create local jobs, provide funds for workforce development, and invest in local infrastructure. The agreement also included measures to protect marine life and local fisheries, ensuring that the project would deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to the surrounding communities while promoting sustainable energy development. Similarly, hydrogen hub projects can adopt such agreements to secure community support while ensuring that the benefits of these projects are widely shared.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Clean hydrogen represents a transformative opportunity in the quest for sustainable and equitable energy solutions. By prioritizing community engagement, hydrogen hub projects can address historical injustices and promote inclusive economic growth. But to do that effectively, the legal and policy frameworks supporting hydrogen development must ensure that the voices and needs of historically excluded communities are at the forefront.
The path to a hydrogen-powered future is fraught with challenges, but with committed community engagement and robust legal support, hydrogen can be a powerful tool for achieving a net-zero economy, supporting energy security, and advancing social equity. Let’s embrace this opportunity to not only transform our energy systems but to build a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive world.
