Los Angeles Ditches Coal as it Prepares to Unveil World's Largest Green Hydrogen Power Plant
The City of Angels has made history by officially shutting down its coal-fired energy generation, marking a significant shift towards carbon-free power sources. As part of this transition, Los Angeles is set to fire up the world's largest green hydrogen power plant in Delta, Utah, which will initially produce a mix of 70% natural gas and 30% hydrogen before transitioning to 100% hydrogen.
The Intermountain Power Project, a massive facility built on top of an underground salt cavern, has been converted to utilize a blend of natural gas and hydrogen. This groundbreaking project is the single largest green hydrogen undertaking in the world and is now operational.
L.A.'s move comes at a time when the prospects for carbon-free green hydrogen production in the United States appear bleak. The process of producing hydrogen from water using renewable energy is more expensive than traditional industrial methods, which involve splitting natural gas to produce hydrogen. Moreover, the Trump administration has not been supportive of federal funding for large-scale clean hydrogen projects.
However, Los Angeles is determined to lead the charge. Its project has been in development since 2022, with a $504 million loan guarantee from President Biden's Energy Department. The facility's electrolyzers, which split water into oxygen and hydrogen, were supplied by Mitsubishi Power, a Japanese company.
According to L.A.'s energy officials, conventional pollution-filtering systems can handle the emissions produced when hydrogen is burned, including nitrogen oxides (NOx). The city aims to achieve 100% carbon-free energy by 2035, with its current renewable energy mix standing at 60%.
Los Angeles has made significant strides in reducing its reliance on coal. In 2003, the city's energy supply was just 3% renewable and over 50% coal; today, it stands at 20 years later at 60% carbon-free energy and zero coal.
As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, Los Angeles is taking a leadership role in this effort. Its pioneering project serves as a model for other cities looking to make the switch to green hydrogen power.
The City of Angels has made history by officially shutting down its coal-fired energy generation, marking a significant shift towards carbon-free power sources. As part of this transition, Los Angeles is set to fire up the world's largest green hydrogen power plant in Delta, Utah, which will initially produce a mix of 70% natural gas and 30% hydrogen before transitioning to 100% hydrogen.
The Intermountain Power Project, a massive facility built on top of an underground salt cavern, has been converted to utilize a blend of natural gas and hydrogen. This groundbreaking project is the single largest green hydrogen undertaking in the world and is now operational.
L.A.'s move comes at a time when the prospects for carbon-free green hydrogen production in the United States appear bleak. The process of producing hydrogen from water using renewable energy is more expensive than traditional industrial methods, which involve splitting natural gas to produce hydrogen. Moreover, the Trump administration has not been supportive of federal funding for large-scale clean hydrogen projects.
However, Los Angeles is determined to lead the charge. Its project has been in development since 2022, with a $504 million loan guarantee from President Biden's Energy Department. The facility's electrolyzers, which split water into oxygen and hydrogen, were supplied by Mitsubishi Power, a Japanese company.
According to L.A.'s energy officials, conventional pollution-filtering systems can handle the emissions produced when hydrogen is burned, including nitrogen oxides (NOx). The city aims to achieve 100% carbon-free energy by 2035, with its current renewable energy mix standing at 60%.
Los Angeles has made significant strides in reducing its reliance on coal. In 2003, the city's energy supply was just 3% renewable and over 50% coal; today, it stands at 20 years later at 60% carbon-free energy and zero coal.
As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, Los Angeles is taking a leadership role in this effort. Its pioneering project serves as a model for other cities looking to make the switch to green hydrogen power.
! I'm so stoked they're leading the way on clean energy - it's about time we ditched those dirty coal vibes 
. The fact that this project has been in development since 2022 and still, it's a world first, is just mind-blowing 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that LA's renewable energy mix is already at 60%? That's, like, so awesome 
. We need more of this green tech innovation to save the planet 
I'm loving this move by LA! They're totally on point with their climate goals 
, especially considering how tough it's been for other cities to make progress in this area 
.
. That kind of support can really make or break projects like this 
. And yeah, the emissions thing is definitely a concern, but it sounds like conventional pollution-filtering systems can handle it 
.
. 20 years on and they're already at 60% carbon-free energy? That's progress for the ages 
!
. It's crazy to think about how far they've come from being just 3% renewable back in 2003 
, and I'm glad Biden's Energy Department is backing this project 
. Can't wait to see more cities follow suit and make the switch to green energy 
that's amazing news!! i'm so proud of LA for leading the way in transitioning away from coal and towards greener energy sources 
just kidding, but seriously, los angeles making the switch to green hydrogen is huge, like, we've been seeing some major developments in this area lately and it's about time someone else jumped on the bandwagon 
like, come on, we need to invest in our future, not hold us back with outdated thinking 
! 70% natural gas and 30% hydrogen sounds like a solid start, but who knows? Maybe soon we'll be sipping on 100% green juice 
️! Trump admin wasn't exactly supportive, lol 
. We're all about that #carbonfree life 
!
. The fact that they're leading the charge on green hydrogen production is a game-changer 
!
Just thinkin' about LA's massive debt of $504 million loan guarantee from Biden's Energy Department is cringe 
And don't even get me started on the fact that this facility is only 70% green and still relies on natural gas 
. I mean, what's the point of calling it 'green' if it's just a band-aid solution? 
. I love how they're going all out with this green hydrogen power plant tho 
. but still wonder if that $504 million loan guarantee was really necessary 
. anyways, green hydrogen power plants are the future imo, gotta love how utah is getting in on this action 
. We need more innovation like this, not less 
!
. And can we talk about how far they've come from 2003? 
. This is the future we've been waiting for and I'm so here for it 
!
I'm also loving that they're not giving up even when it seems like the odds are against them 
Everyone needs a little inspiration and motivation to keep pushing forward. And let's be real, it's about time we start prioritizing the planet over profits 
Now we gotta watch out for the rest of the country to see if they'll follow suit 