OAKLAND, California — In a significant step toward a sustainable future, Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside U.S. Undersecretary of Energy David Crane and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), announced the launch of the world’s first commercial hydrogen fueling hub on August 30. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize the state’s transportation sector, particularly heavy-duty trucking and port operations, by significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Speaking at the press conference, Governor Newsom expressed pride in California’s leadership in clean energy innovation. “We’re stepping up to advance our commitments,” Newsom said, quoting an African proverb to emphasize the collaborative effort behind the project: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”
The hydrogen hub, established through a collaboration with hundreds of partners and funded by a $12.6 billion agreement—including $1.2 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy—aims to cut pollution from diesel and gasoline particulates. The hub’s focus on heavy-duty trucking, public transportation, and port operations is expected to reduce carbon output by approximately 2 million metric tons annually, equivalent to the emissions of 445,000 traditionally-fueled cars.
The initiative will target three major California ports: Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. It will support more than 5,000 hydrogen fuel-cell-electric trucks and over 1,000 hydrogen-powered buses, with infrastructure plans including 60 commercial fueling stations and 165 miles of pipelines.
This project is also poised to create 220,000 new jobs, including 130,000 in construction and 90,000 permanent positions, bolstering the state’s economy while advancing environmental goals.
Senator Padilla highlighted the project as a continuation of California’s long-standing leadership in clean energy, referencing the state’s climate goals set forth in Assembly Bill 32. “This is just another example of California’s ambitious leadership and innovation when it comes to energy solutions,” Padilla said.
U.S. Undersecretary of Energy David Crane lauded California’s role as a pioneer in the hydrogen fuel sector, predicting that the state’s efforts will set a global precedent. “Where California goes, the rest of the country follows, and of course, the rest of the world,” Crane said.
Industry leaders, including Nikola Energy President Ole Hoefelmann, expressed optimism about the future of hydrogen fuel, citing the hub as a crucial development in the energy transition. Hoefelmann acknowledged the current cost disparities between hydrogen and traditional fuels but emphasized that increased demand and infrastructure development would eventually drive down prices.
As California continues to push the boundaries of clean energy innovation, the launch of this hydrogen fueling hub marks a pivotal moment in the state’s—and the world’s—transition to a more sustainable transportation economy.
