Hydrogen Rising

Co-hosts David Wochner, partner at K&L Gates, and Sandra Safro, Associate General Counsel at the Edison Electric Institute, kick off season 2 of Hydrogen Rising with a discussion of developments since the last episodes of Season 1 in November, including exciting new programs at the U.S. Department of Energy like the H2 Twin Cities program and the H2 Matchmaker Tool, as well as moves by cities to bring hydrogen into everyday life

In this episode of Hydrogen Rising, co-hosts David Wochner from K&L Gates and Sandra Safro from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) speak with Eric Holdsworth, Managing Director for Clean Energy and Environmental Policy at EEI about his experience at the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Eric shares his perspectives on what the outcomes of "the most important COP since Paris" mean for the hydrogen economy and what we may see as parties look to take action on their commitments. The discussion also includes steps that the power sector already is taking towards a clean energy future and what may be on the horizon.

Late Friday night, November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a bipartisan basis in favor of the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, sending the landmark and signature piece of legislation to President Biden for his signature. The $1.2 trillion bill includes $550 billion in new spending, touching all aspects of infrastructure in America.

And the growing hydrogen industry is a big winner in the IIJA.

In this episode of Hydrogen Rising, co-hosts David Wochner from K&L Gates and Sandra Safro from the Edison Electric Institute are joined by Laurie Purpuro, Government Affairs Advisor at K&L Gates and former Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, to discuss the politics of what just happened, and to review each provision of the IIJA that will benefit the hydrogen industry. From clean buses and ferries to electrolyzer investment to $8 billion for clean hydrogen hubs to vehicle fueling infrastructure, there is something in the new law that will benefit nearly every aspect of the hydrogen value chain. Importantly, the new law includes a definition of "clean hydrogen" that will lead some industry participants to cheer, while likely igniting frustration in others.

It's all here! Listen in as we walk through the new law provision-by-provision.

Co-hosts David Wochner from K&L Gates and Sandra Safro from the Edison Electric Institute sit down with Jim Sartucci and Elle Stuart, members of the K&L Gates Maritime and Public Policy teams, to discuss how the maritime industry is considering policy and regulatory changes, the most important issues for the industry in the energy transition, and the potential role that hydrogen can play in helping the sector decarbonize.

In honor of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day in the United States, Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, sits down with Hydrogen Rising co-hosts David Wochner and Sandra Safro to discuss the role of her office in helping build out the U.S. hydrogen economy, including the new DOE Hydrogen Shot initiative, collaboration with the private sector, and areas of international cooperation.

In this episode, Sandi Safro of the Edison Electric Institute and guest co-host, K&L Gates partner Buck Endemann, speak with Ben Gerber, President and CEO of M-RETS, about Renewable Thermal Certificates (RTCs) and their application to molecule-based components of a clean energy economy, like hydrogen. Ben shares his thoughts on how the flexibility of hydrogen end-uses in both the fuel and power generation spaces overlay with RTCs and Renewable Energy Credits for project developers and what changes policymakers can advance that would aid the development of a hydrogen economy.

In this episode, co-hosts David Wochner (K&L Gates) and Sandi Safro (Edison Electric Institute) talk with K&L Gates partner and former U.S. Coast Guard officer, Luke Reid, about the potential adoption of hydrogen as a fuel source for the maritime sector, and opportunities and challenges the global shipping industry faces as it tries to reduce its emissions profile. The discussion includes consideration of the current regulatory state of play and potential changes to regulation on the horizon that could provide an opening for hydrogen as a marine fuel. Luke also discusses exciting recent maritime hydrogen projects, like Sea Change, which is the first fuel cell vessel in the United States and the first commercial fuel cell passenger ferry in the world.

Andrew Horvath, Global Group Chairman of Australia's Star Scientific, speaks with Hydrogen Rising co-hosts David Wochner and Kelly Davies about the Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser (HERO®), his company's award-winning, breakthrough catalyst technology. Andrew discusses Star Scientific's vision for the hydrogen future—including opportunities presented by the food industry and data centers, his views on blue hydrogen, developments in Africa, concerns about hydrogen exports, and the need to rethink global energy systems.

Co-hosts Sandra Safro and David Wochner briefly discuss the U.S. Senate passage of the major infrastructure legislation and its hydrogen provisions, as well as significant news for one of the Hydrogen Rising co-hosts. This episode also provides a sneak peek into podcast episodes for the rest of the year.

Hydrogen Rising co-hosts David Wochner and Sandra Safro spend time with Ms. Corine Dubruel, the Vice President for Public Affairs of Plug Power Europe. Corine discusses the incredible growth of hydrogen across multiple sectors in Europe; "Fit for 55," the sweeping climate and clean energy package recently released by the European Commission that targets a 55% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels across Europe by 2030; and HYVIA, Plug Power's recently announced joint venture with Renault focused on building out a complete solution for fuel cell-powered light commercial vehicles.