NAACP Urges More Investigation and Study on the Development of Hydrogen, Including Green Hydrogen
WHEREAS, Hydrogen is promoted as a form of clean energy, though it is an energycarrier or energy-user that can be used to store, move, and deliver energy produced from other sources; and
WHEREAS, The United States government is encouraging and paving the way for the use of renewable energy sources that is required to tackle the climate crisis necessary to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that cause global warming. According to the New York Times article, Five Things to Know about Biden's New Power Plant Rules, "Coal use in the United States has plummeted since 1990, when it produced half of the nation's electricity"; and
WHEREAS, The New York Times further reported that "last year, coal was responsible for 16.2 percent of electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Renewable energy — wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal combined — has already overtaken coal and made-up 21.4 percent of power generation in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas, a fossil fuel, is still responsible for 43.1 percent of the nation's electricity; and
WHEREAS, 95 percent of hydrogen produced in the United States is black, brown, or grey hydrogen a production that contributes 2.2 percent of harmful emission, including carbon dioxide, while blue hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas, using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam that will also produce carbon dioxide as a by-product; and
WHEREAS, Hydrogen proponents promote this energy-carrier as "fuel of the future" while hiding a lot of downsides; though it poses massive risk to public health and safety and is produced mostly from fracked gas; and
WHEREAS, Hydrogen "energy" is inherently inefficient, expensive, and emissions-intensive that comes with massive risks to public health and safety, and almost all of it comes from fracked gas. Turning hydrogen into energy may be emissions-free, but getting the hydrogen in the first place is overwhelmingly not'; and
WHEREAS, Taxpayers will bear the cost for hydrogen infrastructure, create a convoluted mesh that includes more pipelines, power plants, refineries, and more industrial pollution throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is prepared to disburse $7 billion in taxpayer dollars to develop "hydrogen hubs." State and local governments are preparing to spend even more to lure developers to set up shop; and
WHEREAS, Industry titans propose to produce "green" hydrogen on a scale, it is still inefficient compared to renewable-powered batteries, which are 80% efficient, hydrogen fuel cells are only 30%. That makes hydrogen far more expensive than renewablebased electric power; and
WHEREAS, There is no certainty that "green" hydrogen will create no emissions. Hydrogen is a ridiculously small molecule, making it more likely than methane to leak; and
WHEREAS, The most hazardous polluters are heavily investing in "green" hydrogen that appears to be yet another venture to greenwash the expansion of pipelines and power plants; and
WHEREAS, Hydrogen poses health and safety risks to communities, it is volatile, flammable and has already caused explosions that poses major dangers to nearby communities; and
WHEREAS, Hydrogen is currently stored as ammonia, a hazardous chemical that can cause death in high concentrations; and
WHEREAS, The public health risks include the utilities' proposal to blend hydrogen with methane in power plants and utility lines for home-heating use that can lead to nitrogen oxide pollution six times greater than burning fracked gas; and
WHEREAS, All the risks pose health consequences for frontline communities such pollution is an ingredient for particulate matter and ozone, which cause respiratory illnesses that already plague frontline communities that are home to people of color and low-wealth communities that have been relegated as sacrifice zones for decades.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NAACP oppose the use of hydrogen use as a general energy source until such time further research confirms that hydrogen can be used as a general safe and clean energy source.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the NAACP call upon all federal agencies to enforce environmental laws including but not limited to the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, where appropriate, as the fossil fuel industry develops hydrogen as an energy carrier.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the NAACP will oppose the hydrogen hubs with geographic location within a perimeter that will have a negative impact on the people, homes, economic establishments, schools or athletic facilities and similar activities within the Black or other disadvantaged communities:
Supporting information on hydrogen:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $750 Million to Support America's Growing Hydrogen Industry as Part of Investing in America Agenda, March 13, 2024.
https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-750-million-support-americas-growing-hydrogen
Food and Water Watch, the Dirty Side of Green Hydrogen.
That's why Food & Water Watch, ally, is working to stop these projects from ever breaking ground.
Hydrogen Basics, DOE
https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-fuel-basics.
How much of this hype for Hydrogen is Smoke and Mirrors.
https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2022/12/13/hydrogen-energy-hype/
The Dirty Side of "Green" Hydrogen
https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2022/10/24/the-dirty-side-of-green-hydrogen/
What is Hydrogen? National Grid
https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-hydrogen