Consensus is building around the need for more nuclear energy to achieve America’s energy goals, play a key role in the global energy market, and lower global emissions. Bipartisan wins in Congress and support from the Trump and Biden Administrations have created and solidified a clear path for more nuclear energy in America and abroad.

During the flurry of lame-duck activity, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the International Nuclear Energy Act (S.4046) by voice vote. The policy is intended to support global clean energy deployment and national security. The United States, in partnership with its allies, must offer a competitive alternative to Russian nuclear exports, or Russia will continue expanding its geopolitical influence.

Over the past three years, more than 70 electric utilities, serving roughly 81 percent of American customers, have launched significant carbon emissions pledges. Concurrently, many have made clear in those pledges that they need firm, flexible clean energy. Thankfully, clean energy innovation and huge investment in sectors like nuclear energy, carbon capture, and geothermal is turning goals into reality.

The purpose of this memo is to provide recommendations for the successful deployment of regional clean hydrogen hubs by the Department of Energy (DOE), as authorized under Section 40314 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Today, hydrogen is mainly used as a chemical in industry for oil refining and fertilizer production, but it has the potential to be another player in the clean energy innovation game. Like electricity, hydrogen is a carrier for energy from any source to virtually any end use. The smallest element on the periodic table could unlock some of the biggest energy challenges — electricity grid resilience, energy storage, and industrial decarbonization.

As the world moves toward a clean energy future, every clean technology tool in the toolbox will be needed. One new area of innovation that has gained popularity in recent years is hydrogen. As many countries begin to include hydrogen in their decarbonization efforts, a global race to supply clean hydrogen has begun.