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Pasadena council moves ahead on hydrogen‑bus infrastructure despite cost and supply concerns
Summary
Council approved staff’s recommendation to proceed with a design/management contract tied to a hydrogen fueling plan for the city's 0‑emission transit fleet; a council split reflected worries about hydrogen’s lifecycle emissions and the risk of forfeiting roughly $18 million in grant funds if the city cancels now.
The Pasadena City Council voted to approve staff’s recommendation to advance planning and project management work tied to the city’s planned zero‑emission transit fleet, including a hydrogen‑fueling facility, after a robust debate over costs, supply chains and lifecycle emissions. The measure passed 6 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 absence.
Council member Rick Cole raised concerns rooted in recent reporting about the hydrogen industry, saying clean hydrogen remains nascent and much of the hydrogen produced today uses natural gas in emissions‑intensive processes. "America's clean hydrogen dreams are fading again," Cole said during the discussion, urging caution on committing the city to further expenditures.
Acting assistant city manager Philip LeClair and other staff briefed the council on the fiscal consequences of changing course now: staff stated that abandoning the hydrogen pathway at this stage could risk immediately forfeiting about $3,600,000 in grant funds and put an additional roughly $14,200,000 at risk or require lengthy rescoping and reapplication — a combined exposure in the neighborhood of $18 million. "We did visit MSC and the direction was to go back and speak with the granting agencies," LeClair said, describing the staff's follow‑up research with multiple grantors and suppliers.
Supporters on the council argued that hydrogen fuel cells produce zero emissions at the point of use and that the city’s previous investments make changing technology costly. Council member Lyon and others pointed to the city’s multi‑year investment and the possibility that hydrogen technology could mature and yield long‑term emissions benefits.
Council action authorized staff to continue the current procurement and to execute the design/management contract necessary to evaluate hydrogen fueling infrastructure and to protect the city's investments and grant awards. Council asked staff to continue engaging with granting agencies and the bus manufacturer to clarify contractual and funding risks and report back on any changes in the market or funding environment.
Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with grantors and the bus manufacturer, complete the design and project management work funded by the approved contract, and return to council with updated cost and sourcing analyses if circumstances change.
