Montebello joins First Public Hydrogen JPA to pursue hydrogen fuel and stationary power opportunities

The Montebello City Council unanimously approved a resolution to join the First Public Hydrogen Joint Powers Authority (JPA) after a presentation by Jason Caudill, CEO of the authority.

Caudill described the JPA as a municipal aggregation vehicle intended to give cities scale and negotiating power in the nascent hydrogen market. He said the JPA would be a separate legal entity with no obligation to commit city funds simply by joining. If Montebello later procures hydrogen through the JPA — for example to fuel municipal transit buses — that supply contract would come back to council for approval.

"We are working together as cities to see if we can't figure out opportunities," Caudill told the council. He said advantages include competitive pricing through aggregation, options to share mobile refueling and logistics resources and the ability to pursue low‑carbon fuel credits. He also said the JPA aims to pursue long‑term, green hydrogen supply to stabilize price and availability as the market matures.

Council members expressed support for the city joining the JPA, noting Montebello's municipal transit system and upcoming hydrogen bus purchases. Council emphasized there is no immediate fiscal obligation and that membership positions the city to participate in regional procurement and infrastructure planning. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call.