Media: Trump administration's cut to hydrogen energy project funding may cause the U.S. to fall behind China
Bloomberg cited experts as reporting that the policy of U.S. President Donald Trump to cut funding for clean hydrogen energy projects may hinder the U.S. from competing with China in this field, which has become the global leader in producing equipment for green fuel.
Beth Trask, an expert on global energy transition at the American Environmental Group, said: "The U.S. is falling behind other regions in the hydrogen energy sector and is losing its leading position."
According to Bloomberg, the U.S. Department of Energy announced last week that it would stop funding two hydrogen centers on the West Coast of the United States. These centers had previously received $2.2 billion in funding under the Biden administration. These projects were part of more than 220 clean energy programs, and their funding was suspended due to the government shutdown.
In addition, the department also canceled subsidies for several electrolyzer manufacturers in the U.S. The tax law passed by the Trump administration this summer shortened the period of tax incentives for green hydrogen production companies — now, to enjoy tax incentives, the construction of the project must start before 2027, not before 2032.
Bloomberg estimates that nearly 60% of electrolyzers are produced in Chinese factories, and their quality and cost have continued to decline. Unlike Washington, Beijing is actively expanding its national support programs for the hydrogen energy industry: China's national plan requires the production of 200,000 tons of green hydrogen fuel per year by 2025.
Experts warned that the U.S. abandoning support for such technologies could lead to China's leading position in this area, just as it did in solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries before.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845568349365259/
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