Working with Communities on Hydrogen and Renewable Fuels

June 22, 2026

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(Washington State Department of Commerce) Washington is working to ensure hydrogen and renewable fuel development benefits communities, supports workers, and protects public health.

Why environmental justice matters for hydrogen and renewable fuels

Hydrogen is expected to be an important tool for cutting emissions in the parts of Washington’s economy that are the most difficult to decarbonize by 2050. As Washington’s hydrogen market grows, it’s important for hydrogen developers to take steps that ensure their projects don’t harm nearby communities and tribes and provide these groups with benefits. It’s also critical for developers to work with communities and tribes in ways that are respectful, transparent and equitable.

Meaningful public engagement: Commerce is actively engaging communities in hydrogen policy development through hydrogen and renewable fuels initiatives and collaboratives including Washington Maritime Blue’s Sustainable Maritime Fuel Collaborative, the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator and the Alternative Jet Fuel Workgroup. Each are described in How Washington is advancing hydrogen and renewable fuels.
Environmental health benefits: Conventional fuel emissions from aviation, port activities, and heavy-duty trucking disproportionally impact overburdened and port-adjacent communities. Commerce is working to support the deployment of alternative jet fuel (AJF) and green electrolytic hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuel in Washington state for improved air quality and public health.

Workforce

Commerce is assessing opportunities for regional job creation and economic development in Washington state. The Centralia and Lewis County Electrolytic Hydrogen Production Opportunity Study analyzes the opportunities for the transition from coal to green electrolytic hydrogen production in Centralia and the greater Lewis County, which includes leveraging and supporting the local skilled workforce and boosting economic development.
We are engaging with labor unions, community organizations, and research institutions to identify opportunities for state policies to support workforce development and family-sustaining jobs in the growing hydrogen economy.
Commerce is also helping steer and launch the national H2Skills workforce development program aimed at preparing the skilled & technical workforce for the rapidly expanding hydrogen economy. H2Skills is a federally funded effort managed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with support from partners including Commerce, the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU), Centralia College, and others.

Environmental justice toolkit for hydrogen project developers

In 2025 Commerce published the Environmental Justice Toolkit for Hydrogen Project Developers (PDF) which offers guidance to help developers plan and put projects into action in a respectful way. The toolkit builds on state (Healthy Environment for All Act) and federal efforts to improve consultation and collaboration with communities and tribal nations in clean energy development and practically advance environmental justice.

Developed in partnership with Gridworks, the environmental justice toolkit was informed by extensive best practice and case study research, robust input and feedback provided by an advisory council consisting of representatives from industry, communities, tribes and subject matter experts.

The toolkit is a voluntary resource for developers that is intended to strengthen collaboration, improve transparency, and help ensure that hydrogen development contributes to better clean energy equity and environmental justice in Washington state. Effective and meaningful use of the toolkit does not require consultation with or feedback from Commerce.

Individual resources (English)

Guía práctica de recursos de justicia Ambiental (Español)

Tribal engagement

Interest and perspectives from tribes on hydrogen development and opportunities in Washington is diverse.

Areas of tribal interest and engagement

Tribal nations play a variety of roles in the hydrogen industry and economy, including sovereign rightsholders, collaborators, partners, developers, and owners. Tribal leaders and members have expressed interest and participated in various key areas of hydrogen-related work, including:

Engaging in the development or review of hydrogen projects where they align with renewable energy efforts, energy storage and energy sovereignty needs, as well as economic development opportunities for tribal members.
Providing input on how hydrogen should be strategically incorporated into Washington’s energy landscape. Hydrogen’s role must be developed in balance with interrelated issues regarding hydropower, cultural and natural resources, fish and wildlife impacts and other considerations.
Providing guidance and expertise on how hydrogen project developers can best engage and partner with tribes and communities in hydrogen project planning and align on community benefits with Commerce’s Environmental Justice Toolkit for Hydrogen Developers.

Commerce is committed to supporting multiple pathways for tribal engagement on hydrogen and the many issues on which we work with tribal leaders. READ MORE