MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2023 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Carter, Kirby, Butler (38th)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 569

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MISSISSIPPI CLEAN HYDROGEN HUB AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO SELECT MISSISSIPPI'S APPLICATION TO BE A HYDROGEN HUB.

     WHEREAS, the $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of the 117th U.S. Congress, Public Law 117-58, did, in part, allocate funding for the purpose of promoting energy

independence and energy diversity for national security, and to support ground-breaking energy innovations; and

     WHEREAS, this Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides for an investment of approximately $60 Billion in new energy

technologies; and

     WHEREAS, according to the American Institute of Physics, hydrogen could potentially serve as an important fuel source for applications in areas such as transportation and industry;

and

     WHEREAS, hydrogen produced from sources of renewable energy currently involves high costs, which the United States Department of Energy hopes to reduce by 80% through the recently launched Hydrogen Shot Initiative; and

     WHEREAS, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide support for the Hydrogen Shot Initiative and dedicate more resources for the production, storage, transportation and utilization of hydrogen fuel by providing $8 billion in funding over five years to the United States Department of Energy for the establishment of at least four regional hubs to produce, store and distribute clean hydrogen; and

     WHEREAS, recognizing the value of hydrogen hubs, Congress has directed the United States Department of Energy to solicit proposals for regional hubs within 180 days of enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and select at least four regional hubs within one year of the application submission deadline; and

     WHEREAS, under the geographic diversity requirement of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, at least two hydrogen hubs should be located in regions of the United States with the greatest natural gas resources; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has unique geographic and geological characteristics that make it an especially competitive location for a hydrogen hub; and

     WHEREAS, the residents of Mississippi would benefit greatly from the establishment of a hydrogen hub, which would not only bring new jobs and stimulate the economy of this region, but would also position the State of Mississippi as a leader of a new and increasingly important energy technology:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby express our support for the Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub and urge the government of the United States to select Mississippi's application to be a hydrogen hub.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby urge the Government of the United States to designate the Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub as hydrogen hub eligible to receive financial and technical support from the United States Department of Energy under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the United States Secretary of Energy, and each member of Congress of the State of Mississippi, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.