For the last 25 years, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership (H2FCP) has been proud to advance hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technology through collaborative action and shared expertise. Together, the industry is building a sustainable ZEV market that achieves our common environmental and economic objectives:
- DRIVE MARKET SUCCESS by establishing successful market conditions
- WIN HEARTS & MINDS by demonstrating the value of the technology
- BE THE TRUSTED RESOURCE by bringing together leaders and experts, and producing high-quality data and tools to inform decisions
As hydrogen mobility gains momentum across North America, the need for regional coordination has never been more critical. That's why we recently helped convene stakeholders from across the Pacific Northwest for a first-of-its-kind roundtable focused on launching hydrogen fueling infrastructure in Oregon and Washington.
Co-hosted with the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance, discussions covered a range of topics, including state verification processes for hydrogen fueling stations, customer protection standards, and opportunities for West Coast coordination.
Other key takeaways included:
- Hydrogen is no longer theoretical in the Pacific Northwest-it's here. The first local projects are now operational, with additional stations expected to come online in 2026. Regulatory hydrogen associations, vehicle OEMs, station operators, and agency staff are actively collaborating to establish new pathways for state verification that protect both customers and station operators.
- The West Coast needs a coordinated approach. Oregon, Washington, California, and even Canadian partners must collaborate to ensure that regulatory oversight draws on international best practices, incorporates lessons learned from early adopters, and prepares for industry scaling across the entire region.
- A successful market launch requires a genuine partnership between industry and government. The fast-paced, innovative nature of hydrogen technology demands that policy and regulation keep pace with private sector innovation.
This roundtable exemplifies our expanded mission as a national organization. Drawing on more than two decades of California experience (where we helped launch the world's first retail fuel cell vehicle market), we're now sharing those hard-won lessons with emerging hydrogen regions across the country.
Looking ahead to the 2026 state legislative sessions, H2FCP has identified critical topics for future regional convenings: 1) vehicle availability and market development, 2) infrastructure economics and incentive program effectiveness,3) regional standardization of codes and regulations, and 4) mid-stream hydrogen market development, including transportation and storage facilities.
As hydrogen mobility scales nationally, regional forums for learning and collaboration are essential. H2FCP is committed to facilitating these connections, helping sister organizations and emerging hydrogen markets avoid pitfalls, accelerate deployment, and build the zero-emission transportation future we all need.
