Clean Hydrogen Task Force outlines survey findings and schedule for final report to state leadership

Chairman Orgeron presided over the Clean Hydrogen Task Force hearing on April 8, 2025, where staff summarized survey feedback and set a schedule for the group's final report to state leadership.

Amanda McClinton, assistant secretary for the Office of Energy at the Department of Environmental Quality, told the task force: "Last month we conducted a survey to identify topics of our future meetings and we received some great responses." She said the survey asked members about topics including hydrogen production methods and classification, demand-generation and market adoption, solar and renewable integration, pipeline safety, community and federal engagement, and environmental considerations.

Matthew Rionis, who is supporting the task force staff from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, said the group issued a preliminary report in February and must produce a comprehensive final report for the governor and legislature by December. Rionis said the staff aim to have a fairly complete draft by September or early October so task force members and the public can review and provide comment. "That's due in December," he said.

Why it matters: the task force is charged with producing policy recommendations to state leadership on how to grow a clean hydrogen economy in Louisiana. Rionis said recommendations could include inventorying existing infrastructure, identifying future infrastructure needs, and proposing legislative or budget actions.

Task force members discussed meeting cadence and outreach. Chairman Orgeron confirmed the group's regular schedule of meetings roughly every two months and reiterated that staff will collect member recommendations and public comment to inform the December submission.

The task force did not vote on policy at this hearing. Staff asked members to consider recommendation topics as presenters report on technology, safety and market issues at future meetings.