California Air Resources Board

Increased production, deployment, and use of low-carbon hydrogen will be an essential tool to achieve carbon neutrality. The 2022 Scoping Plan Update lays out a cost-effective and technologically feasible path to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 85% below 1990 levels. Displacing fossil fuel with renewable hydrogen emerged as a key energy transition action in the 2022 Scoping Plan Update. Specifically, renewable hydrogen produced through electrolysis or from biomethane was identified as an alternative to fossil fuels in the transportation, buildings, industry, and electricity sectors.

In recognition of the need to drastically reduce GHGs and achieve carbon neutrality no later than mid-century to stabilize the climate, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1075 (SB 1075) (Skinner, Chapter 363, Statutes of 2022). SB 1075 mandates that CARB, in coordination with California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and other organizations develop a report on hydrogen covering production and use across all sectors as a key part of achieving the State’s climate, air quality, and energy goals.