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Home > News and Publications > State Legislative > November Update: State Legislative Activity

November Update: State Legislative Activity

Read more about the recent developments at the state and local level, including how the Department of Commerce's designation of regional tech hubs, could positively impact SMACNA contractors.

November 03, 2023

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced the designation of 31 Tech Hubs in regions nationwide. This is the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program, an economic development initiative designed to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness. The program invests directly in high-potential US regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers.

 

Tech Hubs was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which SMACNA advocated for and was signed into law in August 2022.  

The Tech Hubs are located across 32 states and Puerto Rico and represent urban and rural regions. The designation is an endorsement of the region’s plans to supercharge their respective technological industries to create jobs, strengthen US competitiveness, and protect national security.

 

The Tech Hubs announced a focus on industries ranging from autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology, precision medicine, clean energy advancement, semiconductor manufacturing, and more. They highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration invests in innovation and economic growth in every region of the United States.

The Tech Hubs designees are:

Graph of the Month

Dark blue dots indicate the locations of headquarters for newly designated tech hubs. Green dots show the locations of strategy development grant recipients.

Retrieved from U.S. Economic Development Administration www.eda.gov/funding

United States map with text

$7 Billion in Hydrogen/Clean Energy HUB for States & Regions

The Biden Administration has announced seven regional clean hydrogen hubs selected to receive $7 billion due to our advocacy for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to accelerate the domestic market for low-cost, clean hydrogen. Advancing clean hydrogen is essential to achieving a robust clean energy economy that strengthens energy security, bolsters domestic manufacturing, creates healthier communities and delivers new jobs and economic opportunities across the nation.

The seven selected regional clean hydrogen hubs will catalyze more than $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs – bringing the total public and private investment in hydrogen hubs to nearly $50 billion. Roughly two-thirds of total project investments are associated with green (electrolysis-based) production within the hubs. Several hubs were developed in close partnerships with unions, with three requiring project labor agreements (PLAs). In addition to job creation and creating healthier air for communities, the selected hydrogen hubs are committed to robust Community Benefit Plans to ensure local priorities are at the forefront. All communities share in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

The hubs selected for funding include:

  • Mid-Atlantic Hydrogen Hub (Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2); Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey) - anticipated to create 20,800 direct jobs—14,400 construction jobs and 6,400 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $750 million)
  • Appalachian Hydrogen Hub (Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2); West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania) - anticipated to bring quality job opportunities to workers in coal communities and create more than 21,000 direct jobs—including more than 18,000 in construction and more than 3,000 permanent jobs, helping ensure the Appalachian community benefits from the development and operation of the Hub. (Amount: up to $925 million)
  • California Hydrogen Hub (Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES); California) — will expand opportunities for disadvantaged communities and create an expected 220,000 direct jobs—130,000 in construction jobs and 90,000 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1.2 billion)
  • Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub; Texas) — expected to create approximately 45,000 direct jobs—35,000 in construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1.2 billion)
  • Heartland Hydrogen Hub (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota) — anticipates creating upwards of 3,880 direct jobs–3,067 in construction jobs and 703 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $925 million)
  • Midwest Hydrogen Hub (Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2); Illinois, Indiana, Michigan) — looks to create 13,600 direct jobs—12,100 in construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1 billion)
  • Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNW H2; Washington, Oregon, Montana) — expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs—8,050 in construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1 billion)

For more information, Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7 Billion For America’s First Clean Hydrogen Hubs, Driving Clean Manufacturing and Delivering New Economic Opportunities Nationwide | Department of Energy

 

 

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