The newly formed Western States Hydrogen Association (WSHA) brings together stakeholders in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry with the goal of bringing zero-emission fuel cell trucks, buses, vessels, aircraft and off-road equipment to Hawai’i.
Senator Glenn Wakai (Kalihi-Salt Lake-Foster Village) has been named as Hawaii’s advisor on the panel.
“Hawaiʽi faces unique transportation and power generation challenges and fuel cell technology represents the kind of a flexible, adaptable solution we need to solve those issues. Solar panels and batteries are providing for today’s non-fossil fuel needs, but hydrogen is our answer for our future clean energy needs,” said Senator Glenn Wakai (D-Honolulu). “I’m ecstatic to be participating in the work that WSHA is doing to bringing zero-emission options to the islands and I believe strongly that our shared efforts will affect real change for our communities and our climate.”
The Western States Hydrogen Alliance (WSHA), is made up of leading figures in heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell technology and will focus on a rapid increase in deployment of fuel cell technology across multiple commercial sectors in 13 western states.
The newly formed nonprofit organization is being supported by an external Advisory Board made up of current elected and appointed officials from around the Western U.S. that will help steer the organization’s policy activities and serve as a bridge between industry and government.
Founding members of the alliance include Ballard Power Systems, Capacity Trucks, El Dorado National, Zero Emission Industries/Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, Hyundai, Plug Power, and The Protium Company.