Biden announces regional hydrogen hubs in hopes of sparking a clean-energy revolution

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the locations of seven regional hubs to manufacture hydrogen - a fuel cleaner than fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal - but one which can be derived from renewable energy, nuclear power or planet-warming methane gas.

Biden made the announcement alongside Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at the Tioga Marine Terminal in the Port of Philadelphia - which will eventually use hydrogen produced from renewable energy and nuclear power at a new Mid-Atlantic hydrogen hub comprising parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Speaking in front of port workers on Friday, Biden touted the hydrogen hubs as a major part of his "Bidenomics" plan to create new jobs and new industries. "It's all part of my plan to make things in America," Biden said.

He also said the hydrogen initiative would make progress on his ambitious climate goals.

"I made it a goal for our country to get to net-zero emissions from pollutants no later than 2050," Biden said, adding that hydrogen is an important supplement for renewables like wind and solar, especially to power heavy industry, heavy duty trucks and shipping.

"That's where hydrogen comes in," Biden said. Using "hydrogen, you can power industries like the production of steel and aluminum. It's going to end up changing our transportation system. That lets us get to this place without putting more carbon in the atmosphere."

Seven regional hubs will be awarded funding from a pot of $7 billion that was passed last year as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic, the new hubs will include: