HLS 24RS-2033 RE-REENGROSSED
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
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana is already one of the largest hydrogen producers in the nation,
21totaling 2.8 million metric tons of hydrogen in 2020, and is equipped to be a regional and
22global leader of clean hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use; and
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HCR NO. 64
1 WHEREAS, hydrogen is a chemical element commonly used as a feedstock in
2industrial processes like oil refining, fertilizer production, petrochemical, and steelmaking;
3and
4 WHEREAS, hydrogen is an energy carrier and can store and deliver usable energy
5derived from a variety of sources; and
6 WHEREAS, hydrogen can also be used as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels
7in some use cases with considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions at its point of use; and
8 WHEREAS, hydrogen can be produced using multiple methods, each with varying
9levels of carbon intensity based on the processes and inputs used; and
10 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy has issued guidance defining
11a Clean Hydrogen Production Standard based on the carbon intensity of production, rather
12than the method of production, with "well-to-gate" lifecycle intensity as less than or equal
13to 4.0 kg CO2e per kg hydrogen; and
14 WHEREAS, "well-to-gate" refers to carbon intensity associated with a product or
15process from the point of extraction or production of raw materials to the point where it
16leaves the manufacturing facility gate; and
17 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy is targeting clean hydrogen
18production costs in the $1/kg range within ten years and Louisiana is well-positioned to lead
19the seeking of this goal due to its vast industrial knowledge, facilities, research universities,
20trained workforce, and feedstock assets; and
21 WHEREAS, the study of and policy development for production, infrastructure
22buildout, and end uses for clean hydrogen will make the Louisiana market more competitive.
23 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
24create the Clean Hydrogen Task Force, herein referred to as the "task force", composed of
25members as hereinafter provided, to study and make recommendations related to the
26growing clean hydrogen industry in the state, including its production, connective and
27storage 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, and be staffed by the Louisiana Department
26of Energy and Natural Resources, office of energy, if such office is created on or after July
271, 2024, by House Bill 810 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature and otherwise by
28the discretion of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
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HCR NO. 64
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of membership shall constitute a
2quorum for the transaction of business, and any official business shall require an affirmative
3vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall develop a plan of
5recommendations for the governor and the legislature on Louisiana's future in clean
6hydrogen no later than December 1, 2025.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing this plan, the task force shall
8research and address the following topics:
9 (1)Assess the growing clean hydrogen economy and workforce in the nation and
10in the State of Louisiana.
11 (2)Provide transparency on hydrogen production, connective infrastructure, end
12use, and impacts on local communities.
13 (3)Review active and planned clean hydrogen projects, policy initiatives, public
14and private investments, tax incentives, project permitting, state procurement, pilot projects,
15projected workforce needs, and regulatory structures in Louisiana.
16 (4)Assess public and private policy mechanisms to incentivize clean hydrogen
17specifically for high-opportunity end uses for the State of Louisiana like ammonia and
18chemical products, oil and gas refining, maritime fuel production, power production, and
19port facility operations.
20 (5)Recommend policy strategies to accelerate the production and use of clean
21hydrogen, including processes such as electrolysis and steam methane reforming with carbon
22capture. Policy recommendations may include recommendations on how to overcome
23market and technical barriers and accelerate progress in clean hydrogen production; scaling
24and use, including use of public-private partnerships or demonstration projects; financing
25mechanisms; incentives; or other policies.
26 (6)Assess the largest sources of emissions in Louisiana, the divergence of
27Louisiana's emission sources compared to other states, and the opportunity of clean
28hydrogen production to decarbonize sectors of the state economy, reduce emissions and
29improve air quality.
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HCR NO. 64
1 (7)Assess opportunities for and barriers to deployment of clean hydrogen in the
2state economy and policy environment.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit this plan of
4recommendations for Louisiana's future in clean hydrogen to the governor, the House
5Natural Resources and Environment Committee, and the Senate Natural Resources
6Committee by December 1, 2025 and submit a progress report by March 1, 2025.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the submission of the final plan of
8recommendations the task force shall be disbanded.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
10secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the secretary of the
11Department of Environmental Quality, the secretary of the Department of Economic
12Development, 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 Re-Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Orgeron
Creates the Clean Hydrogen 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. Specifies that the task force will be staffed by the La.
Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, office of energy, if it is created by July 1, 2024.
Otherwise, the task force will be staffed at the discretion of the secretary.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the engrossed resolution:
1. Make a technical change.
The House Floor Amendments to the reengrossed bill:
1. Specify that the task force will be staffed by the La. Dept. of Energy and Natural
Resources, office of energy, if such office is created on or after July 1, 2024, by
House Bill 810 of the 2024 R.S. and otherwise by the discretion of the secretary
of the La. Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources.
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