Overview
Held on February 6th, 2025 at WSP USA in New York, fifty public and private industry leaders convened for the AEG New York 25Q1 Stakeholder Challenge: Hydrogen + Critical Infrastructure. The purpose of this challenge was to: 1.) Agree on a critical obstacle preventing achievement of New York's hydrogen and critical infrastructure goals; 2.) Align on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to best address this obstacle; and 3.) Enable stakeholders to create a volunteer Task Force accountable for delivering the agreed solution.
Rory Christian, Chair and CEO of the New York State Department of Public Service, Alex Kizer (EFI Foundation & H2DI), and John Gasparine (WSP USA) provided opening remarks to frame the discussion surrounding hydrogen and critical infrastructure for NYC Metro. During Kizer’s remarks, he emphasized the importance of demand-side incentives, commercial offtake agreements, and financial mechanisms to accelerate clean hydrogen adoption and market development.
Opening Remarks were followed by the Speaker Challenge, where each speaker provided an 8 minute and 5 slide presentation that concluded with this completed statement: “Regarding Hydrogen & Critical Infrastructure, to achieve New York's Climate, Health and Equity goals under the CLPA, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is __________.”
Victor Shelden (MTA) presented the MTA’s hydrogen fuel cell bus pilot, highlighting regulatory barriers, infrastructure limitations, and the need for policy changes to enable seamless hydrogen transportation across NYC. Uuganbayar Otgonbaatar (Constellation Energy) discussed Constellation’s hydrogen demonstration at Nine Mile Point, showcasing the role of nuclear-powered electrolysis in producing clean hydrogen and exploring its potential for long-duration energy storage.
Inspired by the statement provided by Victor Shelden (MTA), participants agreed to prioritize the following obstacle:
Regarding Hydrogen & Critical Infrastructure, to achieve New York's Climate, Health and Equity goals under the CLPA, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is: the lack of measurable progress towards the approval of hydrogen buses utilizing NYC bridges.”
Participants designed, presented, and selected a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to overcome the above critical obstacle. 11 leaders came together to form a Task Force to complete the above 90-day sprint and 12-month objective.
Task Force Volunteers (some not pictured): William Serratore, City of Yonkers NY (Lead), Craig Connelly, WSP (Co-Lead), Janet Menasche, Power Engineers, Killian Tobin, RINA, Firas Karkar, Willdan, Kerem Yuksel, NYC DCAS, John Gasparine, WSP, Victor Shelden, MTA NYCT, Salvatore Prestano, CSA Group, Gary Leatherman, Alvarez & Marsal, David O’Brien, Guidehouse
5 KEY THEMES
1. Regulatory and Policy Barriers
The current embargo on liquid hydrogen storage and transportation in NYC restricts deployment, making it critical to revise fire codes and transportation regulations. Collaboration with key stakeholders such as FDNY, DOT, the Port Authority, and City Council is necessary to lift restrictions and enable broader hydrogen adoption.
"The inability to produce, store, and transport hydrogen seamlessly throughout all five NYC boroughs is a critical obstacle to securing a zero-emissions future for MTA buses and other vehicle types." – Victor Shelden, MTA
2. Infrastructure Development and Accessibility
Expanding hydrogen fueling infrastructure is essential, with a strategic focus on enabling access via bridges before tackling tunnel restrictions. Identifying non-hazardous material routes will facilitate safe hydrogen delivery and support the integration of hydrogen buses across multiple boroughs.
"To move forward, we must identify viable non-hazardous routes for hydrogen transport, starting with bridges, while working toward broader infrastructure expansion across boroughs." – Stakeholder Discussion, AEG NY 25Q1
3. Funding and Financial Incentives
Securing grants and financial incentives, such as DOE’s $5.8M grant for hydrogen production at Nine Mile Point, is crucial to scaling hydrogen infrastructure. Developing demand-side incentives and financing models will help drive commercial offtake agreements and ensure sustainable investment in hydrogen deployment.
"With the right financial incentives and demand-side support, we can de-risk early hydrogen projects, accelerate adoption, and establish a sustainable market for clean hydrogen in New York." – Alex Kizer, Hydrogen Demand Initiative
4. Community Engagement and Public Perception
Demonstrating hydrogen’s safety and feasibility through pilot programs, such as the MTA hydrogen bus project in the Bronx, will build public trust and policy support. Engaging communities, policymakers, and stakeholders through education and outreach efforts will be essential to achieving broad adoption of hydrogen technology.
"This pilot has garnered overwhelming community support, proving that New Yorkers are ready for hydrogen solutions as long as safety, reliability, and equitable access remain at the forefront." – Victor Shelden, MTA
5. Technical and Market Challenges
Addressing market uncertainties, such as high costs and a lack of commercial offtake agreements, is critical to advancing hydrogen adoption. Overcoming logistical challenges, including hydrogen delivery and storage constraints, as well as ensuring performance reliability in cold weather, will be key to integrating hydrogen into NYC’s energy transition.
Conclusion
The AEG New York 25Q1 Stakeholder Challenge on Hydrogen & Critical Infrastructure convened key industry leaders to address barriers to achieving NYC’s climate, health, and equity goals. The challenge focused on overcoming regulatory restrictions that limit hydrogen transport and storage, expanding fueling infrastructure to enable broader adoption, and securing funding to support commercial offtake agreements and infrastructure development. Key themes included building stakeholder consensus to lift policy barriers, ensuring equitable access to hydrogen solutions through community engagement, and addressing technical and financial challenges to accelerate market growth. As volunteer leaders embark on a 90-day sprint and a 12-month objective, their collective efforts will be essential in advancing hydrogen as a resilient, scalable solution for New York’s clean energy transition.
For the list of participating stakeholders who aligned on this critical obstacle and developed this 12 month goal and 90 day sprint, please visit here.
Other proposed 90-Day Sprints and 12-Month Objectives included:
