After successful proof-of-concept demonstration of hydrogen-powered mining haul truck, WA-based First Mode is readying its suite of low carbon and zero emissions truck solutions into early production
First Mode is a participant in the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, aims to use federal funds to support building hydrogen infrastructure
ICYMI: Murray, Cantwell Announce $1 Billion for New Hydrogen Hub in Pacific Northwest Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
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Centralia, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited First Mode, a product innovation company headquartered in Seattle, with a proving grounds facility in Centralia, that is working to eliminate mining’s carbon emissions and speed its transition to clean energy. Senator Murray toured their outdoor work yard and redeveloped office space, which is located at the TransAlta Centralia Mine, a former coal mine now in the process of reclamation. On the visit, Senator Murray saw heavy-duty haul trucks for mining that are in the process of being retrofitted with hybrid electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric power systems.
“Transitioning to a clean energy economy is absolutely critical to addressing the climate crisis, and as we do so, I want to make sure Washington state is ready to lead the economy of the future,” said Senator Murray. “First Mode is doing incredibly innovative things to decarbonize heavy industry by converting existing mining haul trucks into low carbon and zero-emissions vehicles, which are a really important piece of the puzzle since mining sources the minerals required for the clean energy transition. The innovation I saw here today in Centralia is exactly why I fought so hard to establish a regional hydrogen hub here in Washington state—I’m going to keep championing the cutting-edge work that is happening across our state, including at First Mode, to help tackle the climate crisis while building a stronger clean energy economy.”
“First Mode is honored to welcome U.S. Senator Patty Murray to our Centralia Proving Grounds, where local expertise underpins our active efforts to bring low carbon and zero emission solutions to life. Senator Murray’s steadfast support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act has ensured innovations, like First Mode’s mining haulage solutions, will accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry,” said Rhae Adams, Chief Growth and Sustainability Officer at First Mode.
Located at the TransAlta Centralia Mine, the First Mode Proving Grounds in Centralia includes an outdoor work yard and office space. At the Proving Grounds, First Mode tests and optimizes their low carbon and zero-emission ultra-class mining haul truck and associated hydrogen infrastructure solutions. The site enables First Mode to better analyze the performance and operational effectiveness of their innovations in a true mining environment.
In October, Senator Murray announced the establishment of a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in the Pacific Northwest—one of only seven in the nation—under a landmark new Department of Energy program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Murray helped pass. The designation means that up to $1 billion in federal funding will be going to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association—a multi-state nonprofit coalition of public and private partners—to create a hydrogen network in the Pacific Northwest, called the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, to develop and bring to market clean hydrogen power solutions that can help meet the nation’s clean energy goals.
Senator Murray fought hard and made the case directly to Secretary Granholm for a Hydrogen Hub in the Pacific Northwest, and she hosted a roundtable earlier this year with local leaders representing the PNWH2 to discuss her push to secure this major federal award and ensure that Washington state remains a climate leader—particularly on the nascent green hydrogen economy.
First Mode is a participant in the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub and aims to use federal funds to support building hydrogen infrastructure at their proving grounds. Hydrogen Hub sub-awards are currently in negotiations with the Department of Energy.
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