ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 64
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create and provide with respect to a Clean Hydrogen Task Force to study and make
recommendations with respect to growing the clean hydrogen industry in the state,
including its production, connective and storage infrastructure, and end use.
WHEREAS, Louisiana has historically been a lead energy carrier for the nation, a
top energy producer, and the primary energy consumer because of our leading industrial
sector; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana leads the nation in the energy transition with over one-third
of total industrial investments in clean energy or emissions reductions, and as a result,
employment in Louisiana’s energy sector has grown and is expected to continue to grow in
coming decades; and
WHEREAS, over the last five years, the state of Louisiana has announced thirty-five
clean energy projects totaling $45.6 billion in capital expenditure and these projects will
create twenty-three thousand new jobs with an average salary of $79,700; and that $23.3
billion of the total $45.6 billion represent investments for renewable-powered industrial
projects; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is expected to have exponential growth in demand for clean
hydrogen because of economic opportunity for industries, job growth, and energy
diversification; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is already one of the largest hydrogen producers in the nation,
totaling 2.8 million metric tons of hydrogen in 2020, and is equipped to be a regional and
global leader of clean hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use; and
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WHEREAS, hydrogen is a chemical element commonly used as a feedstock in
industrial processes like oil refining, fertilizer production, petrochemical, and steelmaking;
and
WHEREAS, hydrogen is an energy carrier and can store and deliver usable energy
derived from a variety of sources; and
WHEREAS, hydrogen can also be used as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels
in some use cases with considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions at its point of use; and
WHEREAS, hydrogen can be produced using multiple methods, each with varying
levels of carbon intensity based on the processes and inputs used; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy has issued guidance defining
a Clean Hydrogen Production Standard based on the carbon intensity of production, rather
than the method of production, with "well-to-gate" lifecycle intensity as less than or equal
to 4.0 kg CO2e per kg hydrogen; and
WHEREAS, "well-to-gate" refers to carbon intensity associated with a product or
process from the point of extraction or production of raw materials to the point where it
leaves the manufacturing facility gate; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy is targeting clean hydrogen
production costs in the $1/kg range within ten years and Louisiana is well-positioned to lead
the seeking of this goal due to its vast industrial knowledge, facilities, research universities,
trained workforce, and feedstock assets; and
WHEREAS, the study of and policy development for production, infrastructure
buildout, and end uses for clean hydrogen will make the Louisiana market more competitive.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create the Clean Hydrogen Task Force, herein referred to as the "task force", composed of
members as hereinafter provided, 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
following members:
(1)The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment, or his designee.
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(2)The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, or his designee.
(3)The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or his
designee.
(4)The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee.
(5)The secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his designee.
(6)The chairman of the Public Service Commission, or his designee.
(7)Two appointees from the clean hydrogen industry.
(8)Two representatives from regulated electric power generation and distribution
companies, one of whom shall be appointed by the chairman of the House Committee on
Natural Resources and Environment and one by the chairman of the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources.
(9)Two appointees from the Louisiana higher education system with relevant
expertise.
(10)One appointee from a regional economic development organization with
relevant policy and ecosystem expertise.
(11)No more than three appointees that represent the interests of the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be chaired by the chairman
of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment or his designee and the
chairman shall appoint members unless noted otherwise above.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least quarterly, with
an initial meeting no later than July 31, 2024, and be staffed by the Louisiana Department
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 Regular Session of the Legislature and otherwise by
the discretion of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of membership shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and any official business shall require an affirmative
vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall develop a plan of
recommendations for the governor and the legislature on Louisiana's future in clean
hydrogen no later than December 1, 2025.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing this plan, the task force shall
research and address the following topics:
(1)Assess the growing clean hydrogen economy and workforce in the nation and
in the State of Louisiana.
(2)Provide transparency on hydrogen production, connective infrastructure, end
use, and impacts on local communities.
(3)Review active and planned clean hydrogen projects, policy initiatives, public
and private investments, tax incentives, project permitting, state procurement, pilot projects,
projected workforce needs, and regulatory structures in Louisiana.
(4)Assess public and private policy mechanisms to incentivize clean hydrogen
specifically for high-opportunity end uses for the State of Louisiana like ammonia and
chemical products, oil and gas refining, maritime fuel production, power production, and
port facility operations.
(5)Recommend policy strategies to accelerate the production and use of clean
hydrogen, including processes such as electrolysis and steam methane reforming with carbon
capture. Policy recommendations may include recommendations on how to overcome
market and technical barriers and accelerate progress in clean hydrogen production; scaling
and use, including use of public-private partnerships or demonstration projects; financing
mechanisms; incentives; or other policies.
(6)Assess the largest sources of emissions in Louisiana, the divergence of
Louisiana's emission sources compared to other states, and the opportunity of clean
hydrogen production to decarbonize sectors of the state economy, reduce emissions and
improve air quality.
(7)Assess opportunities for and barriers to deployment of clean hydrogen in the
state economy and policy environment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit this plan of
recommendations for Louisiana's future in clean hydrogen to the governor, the House
Natural Resources and Environment Committee, and the Senate Natural Resources
Committee by December 1, 2025 and submit a progress report by March 1, 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the submission of the final plan of
recommendations the task force shall be disbanded.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the secretary of the
Department of Environmental Quality, the secretary of the Department of Economic
Development, and the chairman of the Public Service Commission.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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