Windy US state ideally placed to ‘lead the nation’ on green hydrogen

Texas can “lead the nation” in producing green hydrogen, according to Glenn Hamer, chief executive of the Texas Association of Business. He said the state should make green hydrogen producers “feel at home”.

by Janet Wood 13 April 2023

Blessed with huge wind resource, including Scout Clean Energy’s 180MW Heart of Texas wind farm, commissioned in 2020, Texas is well placed to attract green hydrogen investors (pic credit: Kipp Schorr/Wagon Productions)

Hamer has praised Texas state governor Greg Abbott for positioning the state “to lead the development of green hydrogen and other energy options for America”.

He also highlighted plans by AES Corporation and Air Products to invest $4bn in a new green hydrogen production facility in Wilbarger County. The plant, which could begin commercial operations in 2027, “will generate a half-billion dollars in revenue for the state” as well as creating hundreds of jobs and supporting the local economy.

Texas is “uniquely positioned to capitalise” on green hydrogen because it already produces more wind energy than any other state and has the potential to generate large amounts of solar power.

Following the Wilbarger County announcement, Hamer said it was time to carry the momentum forward and show the green hydrogen industry that, when selecting locations for their projects, “Texas is ripe for the picking”.