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Labor Unions Unite in Support of a Hydrogen Hub in California

For Immediate Release 

April 13, 2023

Contact: Molly Weedn

media@arches2.org

Labor Unions Unite in Support of a Hydrogen Hub in California

A hydrogen (H2) hub in the Golden State will accelerate the development and deployment of clean, renewable energy projects and infrastructure.

Sacramento – Last week, the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Systems (ARCHES) submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to make California home to one of the nation’s first Clean Hydrogen (H2) hubs. As support continues to grow for the effort, labor unions representing various workers across the state have joined to echo the benefits a clean H2 hub will have in the Golden State. DOE plans to award $8 billion to up to 10 regional H2 hubs across the country. 

ARCHESannounced as the organizer for California’s DOE application last year, is a statewide public-private partnership designed to accelerate H2’s contribution to decarbonizing the state’s economy and will build on California’s long-standing H2 and renewable energy leadership. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has joined with the University of California, state agencies, elected leaders, organized labor, and non-profit organizations to build the framework for California’s renewable, clean H2 hub. 

“The Building Trades are proud to stand as a partner with ARCHES and are hopeful that California will be awarded an H2 hub,” said Andrew Meredith, President of the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California. “The projects included in the ARCHES proposal will bring hundreds of thousands of new jobs to California, helping foster green skilled labor jobs across the state for workers. These projects represent the future of California, and we look forward to working together in coming months to bring this vision to life.”

ARCHES is built on California’s long-standing H2 and renewable energy vision with the objective to fully decarbonize the regional economy, while prioritizing environmental justice, equity, economic leadership and workforce development.

“Adding Hydrogen to our state’s energy portfolio is not only an important step in decarbonizing the state, but will also foster green careers for thousands throughout California,” said Lorena Gonzalez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “The State of California estimates that efforts to transition to clean energy will create four million new jobs and will not only deliver clean energy, but will build lifelong good-paying careers for generations.”

“For the tens of thousands of skilled workers who are involved in California’s existing energy sector, clean H2 represents real and meaningful opportunities to participate in the state’s clean energy transition,” said Yvonne Wheeler, President of Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. “Adding H2 to California’s energy portfolio will foster green careers across the state.”

ARCHES estimates economic impacts of a hydrogen hub in the state will result in hundreds of thousands of new green jobs. Labor unions across the state representing a wide array of workers are continuing to show support for ARCHES, including these organizations (to date):    

AFL-CIO

North America’s Building Trades Unions

State Building & Construction Trades Council of California

California Labor Federation

LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council

LA County Labor Federation

IBEW Local 11

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry Local 78

Ironworkers Local 433

Boilermakers Local 92

IBEW Local 441

United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 220

United Association of Steam, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Pipefitters, Welders and Apprentices Local 250

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12

United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union – USW Local 675

Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16

Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union 105

WINTER – Women In Non Traditional Employment Roles

About ARCHES

ARCHES is California’s public-private hydrogen (H2) hub consortium to accelerate the development and deployment of clean, renewable H2 projects and infrastructure. Clean H2 can supplement renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance a zero-carbon economy. The US Department of Energy will award $8 billion to up to 10 regional H2 hubs to build self-sustaining H2economies of producers, infrastructure, and users. In partnership with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), ARCHES unites key public and private stakeholders to build the framework for a California renewable, clean H2 hub.

ARCHES includes major planned deployments in the Los Angeles Basin and SF Bay Areas, and across the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and other regions. Using 100% renewable resources, ARCHES projects will dramatically reduce GHG and pollutant emissions, improve the lives of California’s citizens, and produce hundreds of thousands of good, green careers for California’s workforce.

For more information, visit archesh2.org/