New Energy

Hydrogen Subsidy Worth Billions Includes Strict Environmental Safeguards

  • Rules spark concerns about stifling development of new sources
  • Closely watched guidance subject of fierce lobbying battle

Hydrogen tanks in a storage area in Scriba, New York.

Photographer: Lauren Petracca/Bloomberg
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Billions of dollars in hydrogen-industry subsidies from President Joe Biden’s signature climate law will come with stringent environmental safeguards, raising concerns that strict rules will stifle production of the nascent climate-friendly fuel.

Under the proposed rules laid out Friday, the new clean-hydrogen tax credit won’t benefit existing nuclear power plants, which is a blow to reactor owners such as Constellation Energy Corp. that lobbied for inclusion. Administration officials, however, said that could change when the guidelines are finalized.