GET DAILY REPORT FREE
This is an opinion piece by Will Hardy, the state director of Conservatives for Clean Energy Louisiana, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Report or its staff.
Growing global power demand cannot be ignored. In the world of continuing technological advancement, America needs more reliable, affordable and secure power generation—such as hydrogen.
American hydrogen production is imperative to ensure America maintains its global energy dominance. China and other foreign entities increasingly prioritize clean energy avenues like hydrogen, and we cannot afford to be left behind. We must lead.
As a nation built on free market principles and innovation, America should be the country leading the rest of the world in energy advancement. We have the resources, tools and economic environment necessary to fuel the energy expansion boom. To enable energy dominance, America needs sources of energy that are more abundant and more affordable. As a resource that satisfies both criteria while meeting existing low-carbon energy goals, hydrogen can be the scalable, versatile, and efficient cornerstone of innovation in domestic energy production that allows the U.S. to offer a greater diversity of high-value energy products to the world market.
America’s industrial sector is the second largest consumer of natural gas, an abundant and reliable source of energy that produces fewer air pollutants. Hydrogen produced from natural gas—otherwise known as blue hydrogen—can make America’s manufacturing and industrial sectors cleaner and more efficient.
In Louisiana particularly, our decades-old energy pedigree and skilled workforce position the state to dominate clean hydrogen production. We need to unleash our energy potential by helping rather than hindering companies wishing to invest in Louisiana clean hydrogen production, which will create jobs and revitalize our communities. According to a new report from Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum, in Louisiana blue hydrogen will create around 9,000 jobs annually in the construction phase. The report projects that nearly 17,500 permanent jobs are estimated to be created if blue hydrogen production is scaled. Blue hydrogen is a boon for Louisiana’s economic growth.
