A proposed hydrogen hub in the western United States has run into vocal opposition from a coalition of indigenous, climate and environmental justice advocates, Kallanish reports.

The New Mexico-based No False Solutions coalition is asking the Biden administration and the US Department of Energy to not fund the proposed Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub that would expand hydrogen production in four states: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The coalition is also opposed to other planned hydrogen hubs. It wants the US to invest in wind and solar, not hydrogen.

“The development of a hydrogen economy will not resolve our reliance on fossil fuels,” says coalition coordinator Alejandria Lyons in a statement. The WISHH plan will “create a public safety crisis” and the US is over-investing in an under-researched technology, she says.

Hydrogen will create major climate and environmental justice concerns across the United States, she adds.

The four states are seeking $1.25 billion in federal funds as the Biden administration is offering $7 billion to develop 10 regional hydrogen hubs across the country. The four states have proposed eight separate hydrogen projects as part of the WISHH. DOE is currently reviewing hydrogen hub applications.

WISHH’s initial concept proposes the development of large-scale “clean hydrogen” using a “broad range” of feedstock. The ecosystem will start with the use of hydrogen in applications such as transportation, electricity generation and agricultural use. It will also include infrastructure to produce, distribute and store hydrogen.