Los Angeles is no longer powered by coal. The city, the second-largest in the US, has officially stopped using electricity generated from coal and is now on track to become carbon-free by 2035.
The move marks a significant milestone for Los Angeles as it transitions away from fossil fuels. The Intermountain Power Project, located in Utah, will now generate electricity from both green hydrogen and natural gas instead of coal. This facility is the largest green hydrogen project in the world, operational now.
L.A.'s switch comes at a challenging time for the US hydrogen market. While it's becoming increasingly expensive to produce carbon-free hydrogen compared to traditional industrial methods, the benefits remain substantial. The Trump administration canceled funding for large-scale hydrogen production and use projects in California and the Pacific Northwest.
The city has been working towards this goal since 2022 when it secured a $504 million loan guarantee from Biden's Energy Department. The facility will produce 21 million kilograms of hydrogen annually by 2024, with plans to convert more power stations to burn hydrogen next year. Los Angeles aims to reach 100% hydrogen-powered energy, using water and renewable power on-site stored in an underground cavern adjacent to the plant.
While there are concerns about emissions from burning hydrogen, LADWP officials say conventional pollution-filtering systems can handle it, resulting in zero CO2 emissions. The city is also aiming for a carbon-free energy supply of 60% today, with only coal-powered energy left behind.
The move marks a significant milestone for Los Angeles as it transitions away from fossil fuels. The Intermountain Power Project, located in Utah, will now generate electricity from both green hydrogen and natural gas instead of coal. This facility is the largest green hydrogen project in the world, operational now.
L.A.'s switch comes at a challenging time for the US hydrogen market. While it's becoming increasingly expensive to produce carbon-free hydrogen compared to traditional industrial methods, the benefits remain substantial. The Trump administration canceled funding for large-scale hydrogen production and use projects in California and the Pacific Northwest.
The city has been working towards this goal since 2022 when it secured a $504 million loan guarantee from Biden's Energy Department. The facility will produce 21 million kilograms of hydrogen annually by 2024, with plans to convert more power stations to burn hydrogen next year. Los Angeles aims to reach 100% hydrogen-powered energy, using water and renewable power on-site stored in an underground cavern adjacent to the plant.
While there are concerns about emissions from burning hydrogen, LADWP officials say conventional pollution-filtering systems can handle it, resulting in zero CO2 emissions. The city is also aiming for a carbon-free energy supply of 60% today, with only coal-powered energy left behind.