HLS 24RS-2033 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 64
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
ENERGY/ALTERNATE: Creates the Clean Hydrogen Task Force
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create and provide with respect to a Clean Hydrogen Task Force to study and make
3 recommendations with respect to growing the clean hydrogen industry in the state,
4 including its production, connective and storage infrastructure, and end use.
5 WHEREAS, Louisiana has historically been a lead energy carrier for the nation, a
6top energy producer, and the primary energy consumer because of our leading industrial
7sector; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana leads the nation in the energy transition with over one-third
9of total industrial investments in clean energy or emissions reductions, and as a result,
10employment in Louisiana’s energy sector has grown and is expected to continue to grow in
11coming decades; and
12 WHEREAS, over the last five years, the state of Louisiana has announced thirty-five
13clean energy projects totaling $45.6 billion in capital expenditure and these projects will
14create twenty-three thousand new jobs with an average salary of $79,700; and that $23.3
15billion of the total $45.6 billion represent investments for renewable-powered industrial
16projects; and
17 WHEREAS, Louisiana is expected to have exponential growth in demand for clean
18hydrogen because of economic opportunity for industries, job growth, and energy
19diversification; and
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HCR NO. 64
1 WHEREAS, Louisiana is already one of the largest hydrogen producers in the nation,
2totaling 2.8 million metric tons of hydrogen in 2020, and is equipped to be a regional and
3global leader of clean hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use; and
4 WHEREAS, hydrogen is a chemical element commonly used as a feedstock in
5industrial processes like oil refining, fertilizer production, petrochemical, and steelmaking;
6and
7 WHEREAS, hydrogen is an energy carrier and can store and deliver usable energy
8derived from a variety of sources; and
9 WHEREAS, hydrogen can also be used as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels
10in some use cases with considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions at its point of use; and
11 WHEREAS, hydrogen can be produced using multiple methods, each with varying
12levels of carbon intensity based on the processes and inputs used; and
13 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy has issued guidance defining
14a Clean Hydrogen Production Standard based on the carbon intensity of production, rather
15than the method of production, with "well-to-gate" lifecycle intensity as less than or equal
16to 4.0 kg CO2e per kg hydrogen; and
17 WHEREAS, "well-to-gate" refers to carbon intensity associated with a product or
18process from the point of extraction or production of raw materials to the point where it
19leaves the manufacturing facility gate; and
20 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy is targeting clean hydrogen
21production costs in the $1/kg range within ten years and Louisiana is well-positioned to lead
22the seeking of this goal due to its vast industrial knowledge, facilities, research universities,
23trained workforce, and feedstock assets; and
24 WHEREAS, the study of and policy development for production, infrastructure
25buildout, and end uses for clean hydrogen will make the Louisiana market more competitive.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27create the Clean Hydrogen Legislative Task Force, herein referred to as the "task force",
28composed of members as hereinafter provided, to study and make recommendations related
29to the growing clean hydrogen industry in the state, including its production, connective and
30storage infrastructure, and end use.
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HCR NO. 64
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
2following members:
3 (1)The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and
4Environment, or his designee.
5 (2)The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, or his designee.
6 (3)The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or his
7designee.
8 (4)The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee.
9 (5)The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his designee.
10 (6)The chairman of the Public Service Commission, or his designee.
11 (7)Two appointees from the clean hydrogen industry.
12 (8)Two representatives from regulated electric power generation and distribution
13companies, one of whom shall be appointed by the chairman of the House Committee on
14Natural Resources and Environment and one by the chairman of the Senate Committee on
15Natural Resources.
16 (9)Two appointees from the Louisiana higher education system with relevant
17expertise.
18 (10)One appointee from a regional economic development organization with
19relevant policy and ecosystem expertise.
20 (11)No more than three appointees that represent the interests of the community.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be chaired by the chairman
22of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment or his designee and the
23chairman shall appoint members unless noted otherwise above.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least quarterly, with
25an initial meeting no later than July 31, 2024.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of membership shall constitute a
27quorum for the transaction of business, and any official business shall require an affirmative
28vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.
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HCR NO. 64
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall develop a plan of
2recommendations for the governor and the legislature on Louisiana's future in clean
3hydrogen no later than December 1, 2025.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing this plan, the task force shall
5research and address the following topics:
6 (1)Assess the growing clean hydrogen economy and workforce in the nation and
7in the State of Louisiana.
8 (2)Provide transparency on hydrogen production, connective infrastructure, end
9use, and impacts on local communities.
10 (3)Review active and planned clean hydrogen projects, policy initiatives, public
11and private investments, tax incentives, project permitting, state procurement, pilot projects,
12projected workforce needs, and regulatory structures in Louisiana.
13 (4)Assess public and private policy mechanisms to incentivize clean hydrogen
14specifically for high-opportunity end uses for the State of Louisiana like ammonia and
15chemical products, oil and gas refining, maritime fuel production, power production, and
16port facility operations.
17 (5)Recommend policy strategies to accelerate the production and use of clean
18hydrogen, including processes such as electrolysis and steam methane reforming with carbon
19capture. Policy recommendations may include recommendations on how to overcome
20market and technical barriers and accelerate progress in clean hydrogen production; scaling
21and use, including use of public-private partnerships or demonstration projects; financing
22mechanisms; incentives; or other policies.
23 (6)Assess the largest sources of emissions in Louisiana, the divergence of
24Louisiana's emission sources compared to other states, and the opportunity of clean
25hydrogen production to decarbonize sectors of the state economy, reduce emissions and
26improve air quality.
27 (7)Assess opportunities for and barriers to deployment of clean hydrogen in the
28state economy and policy environment.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit this plan of
30recommendations for Louisiana's future in clean hydrogen to the governor, the House
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HCR NO. 64
1Natural Resources and Environment Committee, and the Senate Natural Resources
2Committee by December 1, 2025 and submit a progress report by March 1, 2025.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the submission of the final plan of
4recommendations the task force shall be disbanded.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
6secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the secretary of the
7Department of Environmental Quality, the secretary of the Department of Economic
8Development, and the chairman of the Public Service Commission.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 64 Original 2024 Regular Session Orgeron
Creates the Clean Hydrogen Legislative Task Force, to study and make recommendations
related to the growing clean hydrogen industry in the state, including its production,
connective and storage infrastructure, and end use. Requires the task force to develop a plan
of recommendations for the governor and the legislature on Louisiana's future in clean
hydrogen no later than Dec. 1, 2025.
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