Just because Oklahoma’s HALO hydrogen project with Arkansas and Louisiana was not chosen to share in some $7 billion in government funding doesn’t mean there won’t be hydrogen development in the state.
Oklahoma Energy Secretary Ken McQueen told OK Energy Today a meeting will be held Friday with the industry’s participating partners. There were nearly 120 companies who expressed interest in the original HALO Hub project and McQueen said more than 70 submitted proposals.
Why wasn’t Oklahoma chosen as one of the seven regional hubs in the U.S.? Good question. McQueen pointed out that with the exception of a regional hub chosen in Texas, the remaining six are on the east and west coasts and the northern part of the U.S. The Southwest and Southeast were excluded.
He wouldn’t say if politics played a role in the funding decision.
“A number of our projects were very strong,”said McQueen. “We want to make sure to get those projects on line and that’s why we want to have a conversation and a good discussion, then we’ll follow up with the Department of Energy.
As for the alliance with Arkansas and Louisiana, he wants to keep working with the two states “certainly for the short run.” The long run might be another matter.
“Too early to say until we do a post mortem,” added McQueen. “In the coming months, we’ll make an inquiry with the DOE to see about any deficiencies, then hopefully do a review and plot a better path forward.”
Gov. Kevin Stitt has alaready expressed some optimism about future hydrogen projects in the state.
“I am confident that there are still plenty of opportunities for Oklahoma to partner with hydrogen companies and other innovative energy projects as we continue to pursue a more-of-everything approach,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt in a statement after President Biden announced the seven sites last Friday.