California’s billion-dollar hydrogen hub project is approved — but not without controversy

The leaders of California’s embryonic hydrogen hub announced Wednesday that they have signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy worth billions.

The California hub is part of a $7-billion federal project to build the infrastructure for a “clean” hydrogen economy to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California hub — known as ARCHES, or the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems — will net $1.2 billion of that federal money, with plans to bring in another $11.2 billion in private investment. California was awarded hub status in October.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.