WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) were joined by Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in celebrating the eighth annual National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day. The members introduced bipartisan, bicameral resolutions designating today, October 8, 2022, as “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.”

“In Delaware and across our nation, innovators and workers are building the future of our nation’s economy and energy security with the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies,” said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus. “I am proud that our Delaware delegation recently hosted Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi to demonstrate that Delaware is leading the way in advancing clean and reliable hydrogen technologies and excited that Congress came together to recognize National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.”

“The hydrogen and fuel cell industry provides immense economic and environmental benefits to Connecticut and our country,” said Senator Blumenthal, Co-Chair of the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus. “Cutting-edge fuel cell and hydrogen technologies bolster our energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost job creation, and strengthen our power grid. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan resolution and to join my colleagues in marking National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.” 

“I’m proud to lead my colleagues in commemorating National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day,” said Senator Graham, Co-Chair of the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus. “Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are boosting manufacturing and economic growth in South Carolina and across the country.”

In March, Senator Coons and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Hydrogen for Trucks Act, a bipartisan bill to support the adoption of heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fueling stations. The Hydrogen for Trucks Act is the part of the Coons-Cornyn Hydrogen Infrastructure Initiative, a package of bills to support the deployment of hydrogen technologies and cut emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. These carbon-intensive sectors — such as global shipping or the production of steel, cement, glass, and chemicals — face technological barriers that limit the adoption of other forms of clean energy.

This important day marks the growth of the industry by raising awareness of the benefits that hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies provide in reducing emissions while driving economic growth. National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is observed on October 8 (10.08), in recognition of the atomic weight of hydrogen: 1.008. Hydrogen is already providing fuel, feedstock, and power to wide-ranging sectors of the United States. This year’s celebration comes on the heels of significant investments in clean hydrogen and actions by the Department of Energy to fulfill hydrogen provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the release of a Funding Opportunity Announcement for its new H2Hubs program and a draft National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. 

For more information on National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, please visit www.hydrogenandfuelcellday.org. You can view photos from the visit to Delaware by Secretaries Granholm and Walsh and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi here

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