The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (the DMV) are in the early stages of a major energy transition. Fueled by climate change, technical and process innovation, and a population committed to responsibly stewarding our natural resources, the result will be a healthy and prosperous environment for all who live and work in the region. The DMV can demonstrate strong regional and national leadership in meeting climate goals and objectives by delivering the next generation of the energy ecosystem. This will create economic growth and establish thousands of high-quality jobs and safer environments throughout our region, including for our most distressed communities
While electrification is seen as a key pathway to decarbonizing energy use in the DMV, it is essential to note that not all end use can be decarbonized through electrification alone. Further, while significant growth in renewable electric generation is forecast in the region, the electric grid demand cannot be met solely by renewables in the near future. Therefore, addressing climate change in the DMV will increasingly require innovative solutions to reach the region’s goals.
Hydrogen represents one of the most promising of these innovative solutions. It is the most abundant element in the world and one of the most versatile components of our clean energy solutions portfolio. It also serves as a strategic ally to other clean energy transition initiatives and technologies, like electrification. Hydrogen can be produced, transported, stored and utilized in numerous ways to decarbonize the DMV’s hardest-to-abate sectors. It can store and generate clean power and heat used in industrial processes and enable zero-emission transportation.
