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The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the trade association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and is dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies deliver clean, reliable power to leading edge corporate, academic and public sector users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform our energy future. FCHEA represents the full global supply chain, including universities, government laboratories and agencies, trade associations, fuel cell materials, components and systems manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel distributors, utilities and other end users.

Federal Policy

FCHEA Policy Priorities

The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the national industry association which advocates for expansive and growing hydrogen and fuel cell sector, representing over one hundred leading companies and organizations that are advancing innovative, clean, safe, and reliable energy technologies.

In FCHEA’s advocacy efforts, we work collectively across our membership to develop pathways to further drive the industry forward. Our focus includes:

  • Promoting tax Incentives to drive private investment and adoption

  • Securing appropriations funding to advance hydrogen and fuel cell research, development, demonstration, and deployment

  • Infrastructure programs to expand deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies at scale

These priorities continue FCHEA’s more than 30 year history of working on federal hydrogen and fuel cell policy activities, alongside holding Congressional briefings, providing letters and testimony, and working with state legislatures and executive agencies, as appropriate.

FCHEA’s policy priorities and advocacy efforts are member-led and determined by the industry’s interest.  Future policy activities include a range of work from supporting early-markets of hydrogen such as solutions for aviation and maritime applications, growing demand-side support in line with expected production, streamlined permitting for hydrogen facilities, and more.

Tax Incentives

Tax incentives drive private investment across the hydrogen value chain. Through these federal incentives, the hydrogen and fuel cell industry is able to drive down costs of production and ensure early adoption in the most hard to decarbonize sectors of our economy. FCHEA has been instrumental in working with Congress to enact the range of tax credits available for the fuel cell and hydrogen industry today.

FCHEA Successes

  • Under the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169), FCHEA was the leading advocate with its Congressional Champions for creation of the clean hydrogen production tax credit which is expected to provide at least $13 billion in value for industry over the next 10 years. In addition, we were successful in securing long-term extensions of the energy credit which is inclusive of fuel cell technologies and energy storage, the light-duty qualified fuel cell motor vehicle credit, the commercial electric vehicle credit, alternative fuel refueling property credit, and the advanced energy project credit. As a whole, this suite of incentives creates a level playing field for hydrogen energy and fuel cell technologies to prosper and recognizes the critical role that hydrogen must play in our nation’s decarbonization efforts.

Technology Research, Development, and Deployment

FCHEA promotes continued and stable funding from Congress for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs which support early, mid, and late-stage fuel cell and hydrogen technology research, development, and deployment to facilitate a wide-scale adoption of hydrogen production and utilization nationwide.  

FCHEA Successes

  • Secured more than $2 billion in programmatic funding for DOE over the past fifteen years, including achieving increases when faced with significant proposed cuts across several administrations. The programs include the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Fossil-Based Hydrogen program located within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, and the Office of Nuclear Energy.

  • Expanding funding for codes and standards work critical to reducing barriers to hydrogen adoption. FCHEA leads efforts on international adoption and harmonization, including the management of www.fuelcellstandards.com, which tracks the world-wide development of around 400 hydrogen and fuel cell standards; and serving as Chair and Secretary for the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes and Standards Coordinating Committee (NHFCCSCC).

Infrastructure

In addition to research and development, Federal support for clean hydrogen and fuel cell deployment efforts are critical to building the hydrogen industry. FCHEA has been an industry advocate for the industry across Congress and the administration to ensure our industry has the infrastructure development needed to foster widespread growth and adoption.

FCHEA Successes

  • Secured $9.5 billion in funding for specifically hydrogen and fuel cell deployment programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58). This includes the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs which demonstrate a variety of hydrogen production methods and end uses. FCHEA was instrumental in the development of these critical programs, partnering with our champions in Congress to design and support the hydrogen programs.

  • FCHEA helped secure under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5) provisions that would expedite the federal permitting process for critical infrastructure needed to support the hydrogen value chain.

Caucus Support

FCHEA worked with its Congressional allies to form Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucuses in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in 2005.  The bipartisan, bicameral collection of lawmakers sponsor legislation and resolutions, including National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, host educational briefings, and share information with their colleagues and constituents on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies’ environmental and economic benefits.

Make sure your company’s interests are represented on Capitol Hill and across the country, please reach out to learn more about membership.