South Carolina Now First State to Uniformly Permit Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
COLUMBIA, SC – Beginning now, SC is the first state to uniformly permit hydrogen and fuel cells at the state level while using internationally recognized codes and standards.
The South Carolina Hydrogen Permitting Act (Bill H3835) was passed into law June 14, 2010. The new law places the authority and responsibility of permitting hydrogen and fuel cell facilities in SC in the jurisdiction of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
“The South Carolina Hydrogen Permitting Act is one small step on the road to clean, secure energy independence for the state and nation,” said Shannon-Baxter Clemmons, executive director of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.
About The Law
The US Department of Energy recently identified coding, standardization and permitting of hydrogen and fuel cells as a significant barrier to success for the industry. As a result, a collaborative effort between industry and government organizations assessed how South Carolina could implement a uniform permitting process that didn’t cost the taxpayers of the state. The effort included participation from The Office of the State Fire Marshal, South Carolina Energy Office, SC Municipal Association, Dantherm Power, Engenuity, University of South Carolina, Greenway Energy, Center for Hydrogen Research, Savannah River National Laboratory, SCRA, South Carolina State University, Clemson University, US Department of Energy and South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.
The law allows the local Authorities Having Jurisdiction to become acquainted with hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. It also provides a reliable source of expertise at the Office of the State Fire Marshal without incurring onerous training expenses while the industry is in a build up phase. It also ensures that commercial and industrial businesses seeking to site hydrogen for energy use, or as a transportation fuel, are given equal treatment and are held to a consistent standard.
Impact of the Law
The Hydrogen Permitting Act will help South Carolina increase economic development and job growth within the state. It will ensure that new ventures in hydrogen and fuel cells will be able to develop in a timely manner.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell said, “We are already seeing real-world private sector applications of hydrogen technology right here in South Carolina. As this new industry grows, we need to make sure our laws keep up with the progress of the market to prevent bureaucratic roadblocks. The Hydrogen Permitting Act helps pave the way for future private sector innovation and job creation by standardizing these fueling stations as the new gas stations of the 21st Century.”
Brian Weeks, associate director at Advanced Energy Systems Gas Institute, echoed these sentiments.
“Establishing a statewide expert for hydrogen and fuel cell permitting will help remove uncertainty in the permitting of new, clean energy projects. This should benefit both project developers and consumers,” said Weeks.
Public safety will also be a benefit of the new law. Citizens will be able to gain access to the technology through balanced and uniform safety precautions.
Ernest Chaput, director of special projects at the Center For Hydrogen Research, said, “South Carolina is once again leading the country in facilitating the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cells into our daily lives. By creating a uniform statewide permitting process, we have eliminated a major uncertainty for adopters of these important energy technologies while assuring public safety. This is a win-win for all.”
Lastly, the law will greatly assist in the commercialization of hydrogen while also helping communities recognize hydrogen as a transportation fuel.
“South Carolina has made a significant statement about the emerging hydrogen economy with the passage of the SC Hydrogen Permitting Act. The legislation recognizes that hydrogen is transitioning from historic utilization as a specialized industrial gas to a more widespread energy source for the rapidly developing fuel cell industry in the state. This is sure to have a positive influence locally and nationally, because this law assures that the commercial appeal of hydrogen fuel cell systems will be accompanied by cost effective application standards that safeguard public health, safety, and provide education and awareness,” said Sam Logan, CEO and president of LOGAN Energy.
Additional Support
In addition to the support of industry and government, the law also garnered key support from the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC).
“Cities and towns across our state are seeking out new and innovative ways to bring jobs and economic growth to their residents. Anything that helps our cities and towns add new technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells to local economic growth efforts is a very positive step,” said Reba H. Campbell, deputy executive director of the MASC.
About the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance
The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance is a public-private collaboration for cooperative and coordinated utilization of resources in the state used to advance the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
About Advanced Energy Systems Gas Institute
GTI is a not-for-profit Research and Development (R&D) organization. For more than 65 years, they have been the leader in the development and deployment of technology solutions that contribute to a secure, abundant, and affordable energy future. To date, GTI programs have resulted in nearly 500 products, 750 licenses, and more than 1,200 associated patents.
About Center For Hydrogen Research
The Center for Hydrogen Research is a collaboration between Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and Aiken County. Located on the Savannah River Research Campus in Aiken County, South Carolina, their facility houses lab space for both the SRNL researchers and private partners to investigate and test the storage, production and supporting disciplines of hydrogen. The Center for Hydrogen Research is a member of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance and the National Hydrogen Association.
About LOGAN Energy
LOGAN Energy Corp. (”LEC”) is a recognized world leader providing fuel cell solutions that target customer desires for clean energy services. The company has achieved technical proficiency through operating all commercial stationary fuel products, aggregating more than 10 megawatts of capacity. These installations include residential, commercial and industrial applications.
About MASC
The Municipal Association of South Carolina represents and serves the state’s 270 incorporated municipalities. The Association is dedicated to the principle of its founding members: to offer the services, programs and tools that will give municipal officials the knowledge, experience and tools for enabling the most efficient and effective operation of their municipalities in the complex world of municipal government.
