House Concurrent Resolution 48

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MISSISSIPPI CLEAN HYDROGEN HUB AND URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 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 groundbreaking 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby express our support for the Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby urge the government of the United States to designate the Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub as a 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 copies of this resolution be furnished to all of the following: (1) The President of the United States of America; (2) The President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate; (3) The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; (4) The United States Secretary of Energy; and (5) each member of Congress of the State of Mississippi, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.