ENERGY PRICES: Harder Demands Restoration of Lodi Energy Project that will Lower Energy Bills, Create Jobs
LODI – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded an immediate reversal of cuts that will cancel funding for the Lodi Energy Center Hydrogen Project, which would lower energy bills, create jobs, and clean up our air. The U.S. Department of Energy is cancelling nearly $8 billion in projects across the country, which includes $35 million for the Lodi hydrogen facility. If completed, the Lodi project would be the only one of its kind in Northern California.
Valley families desperately need more clean energy:
California ratepayers pay the second highest bills in the country, and for many families, monthly energy bills are often higher than their rent.
Clean energy shortages make our air quality worse – Stockton and Sacramento rank among some of the worst air quality metropolitan areas in the country.
“It’s outrageous that the Department of Energy is pulling the plug on this vital project. Valley families desperately need cheaper energy, better air quality, and good paying jobs. This project was a win-win-win,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m calling on the Energy Secretary to immediately reverse these cuts and stop making life more expensive in the Valley. Washington needs to learn that our health, wallets, and future are not negotiable.”
Harder has fought for this project every step of the way:
Historic funding – Harder helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provided this $35 million investment in Lodi.
Local priority – Harder successfully pushed the Department of Energy to prioritize the Lodi hydrogen facility in the award funding process.
- Immediate reversal – Harder is sending a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright demanding an immediate reversal of these cuts and a restoration of the Lodi project.
“This project would have brought millions to the City of Lodi, not only through clean and affordable energy but by creating good-paying local jobs and positioning Lodi as a central hub in the clean energy future,” said Lodi City Councilmember Mikey Hothi. “Thank you to Representative Harder for taking up the mantle on this. As proposed, this would be among the first truly green hydrogen projects in the United States, a landmark we should be proud to host.”
If completed, the Lodi Hydrogen Project would be a historic asset and economic driver for the Valley. Constructed at the Northern California Power Agency’s (NCPA) existing natural gas facility, the project would produce clean hydrogen energy and increase grid reliability without any additional strain on precious Valley water supplies.
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