The 2023 California Hydrogen Leadership Summit (CHLS) will explore how California policymakers can accelerate production, delivery, storage, and use of hydrogen to achieve California’s decarbonization, economic development, and grid reliability goals at its second annual event June 19-20, 2023, at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Downtown Sacramento, California.
Hydrogen’s role as a climate friendly energy carrier is seen as a game changer for utility power generation, grid resiliency, hard-to-decarbonize heavy industry, clean transportation, air quality in disadvantaged communities, and more.
The summit is focused on the steps policymakers can take to support hydrogen development, as supportive regulations and incentives are key to accelerating the state’s hydrogen future.
One of the hot issues to be discussed will be how hydrogen and fuel cells can help transportation industry stakeholders to meet the requirements of the upcoming Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which will require commercial truck fleets to transition to zero-emissions on an accelerated timeline. Medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles are seen by many as essential to ensure that range and weight sensitive trucking applications can participate in the transition to zero tailpipe emissions. The California Air Resources Board is expected to adopt the ACF rule this spring, prior to the summit.
The summit is organized by the state’s largest and most diverse hydrogen trade association, the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC) and leading clean energy and transportation consulting firm, Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA).
“California officials will connect with experts and implementers participating in the Summit to learn how hydrogen support strategies can accelerate progress towards the state’s sustainability goals,” said Katrina Fritz, Executive Director of CHBC. “Policymakers now recognize that hydrogen addresses many of our most pressing challenges, and this event will enable a shift from awareness to greater action.”
“Hydrogen is again in the spotlight in Sacramento, especially with CARB’s anticipated regulation that will immediately impact commercial fleets,” said Cliff Gladstein, founding president of GNA. “It’s important that California lawmakers meet the industry pioneers who are ready with clean hydrogen solutions, and the Summit will bring together stakeholders to collaboratively drive policy action and beneficial projects.”
The summit convenes state and local decision-makers and hydrogen and fuel cell industry specialists to review the development priorities for 2023 and the policies, programs, and incentives needed to accelerate the markets of this critical decarbonization pathway. Featured speakers include leaders from California’s legislature, public agencies, businesses, and academia, who will identify the steps needed to increase the use of hydrogen and related technologies and explore the policy mechanisms the state can deploy to facilitate hydrogen commercialization.
This year’s panel topics include:
- Hydrogen to decarbonize California’s energy systems across the value chain
- Hydrogen for reliable and resilient electrical grids
- Building successful hydrogen projects with a focus on financing and investment
- Federal hydrogen investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA & Hydrogen Hubs)and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
- Meeting California’s zero emission transportation goals with hydrogen
- Hydrogen at the local and regional level with a focus on CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule.
To register or learn more, visit www.cahydrogenleadershipsummit.com.
