Release: Community and labor gather to discuss impacts of HyVelocity Hub in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 27, 2023
Contact: Veronica Serrano, veronica@txclimatejobs.org, 512-500-9267
Safety of workers and community dominate discussion around Gulf Coast hydrogen hub in running for federal dollars
HOUSTON – A proposed hydrogen hub could bring up to 45,000 jobs to the Gulf Coast and across Texas. But participants at a recent hydrogen summit questioned whether the group behind the project, HyVelocity, has done enough to ensure that the initiative will create high quality jobs and benefit communities.
“We cannot address climate change without addressing economic inequality and we cannot address economic inequality without addressing climate change,” said Rick Levy, president of the Texas AFL-CIO. “Dealing with climate change can be the greatest job creator – and shame on us if we don’t figure out what that looks like.”
The Texas Climate Jobs Project hosted the Hydrogen Summit on Feb. 22 at the Gulf Coast AFL-CIO’s office in Houston. Nearly 100 union and community members attended the event to learn about the potential Gulf Coast hydrogen hub and the effects it could have on neighboring communities, as well as the hazards the hub's workforce could face.
“We need to ensure that we’re hiring local and make sure that the communities are getting all the benefits because they’re taking on all the risk,” said Paige Powell, policy manager for Commission Shift. “We need to say to HyVelocity, ‘What’s in your application? Tell me about your technologies for safety. Let us know what you’re doing to protect workers and communities.’”
While the hydrogen hub has the potential to deliver benefits for clean energy and workers alike, panelists voiced concerns around the volatility of hydrogen gas, saying training in safe hydrogen handling is imperative.
“Safety is the biggest concern. We live here - we live in Galena Park, the Houston area, Harris county. This is about education and bringing home the importance of safety and what could happen,” said Stephen Gonzales, Business Manager and Financial Secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 716. “I want it to be built right the first time, and union labor is key.”
HyVelocity is negotiating with the Department of Energy (DOE) and could receive up to $1.2 billion in taxpayer funds for the hub. HyVelocity’s sponsors include billion-dollar corporations such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Air Liquide. Its supporting partners include Amazon, Governor Greg Abbott, and the Texas Railroad Commission.
Cyrus Reed, conservation director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, said there is much hope in hydrogen development and that it can be a climate solution, but there are also potential hazards for the community and the planet. “There needs to be more transparency in that process so that the 1.2 billion dollars are used efficiently and effectively,” Reed said, “and we need the DOE to assure that workers and communities are brought to the table.”
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