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Station Funding

Some of today’s hydrogen stations are owned and operated by energy companies, others are operated by universities, local governments, transit agencies and utility companies. Still others are private stations at automaker facilities. Only one station in California is operated by a private company, although more are coming.

Most stations were built with a combination of government and private funding through the following programs:

  • California’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program, created by Assembly Bill 118, authorizes the Energy Commission to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state's climate change policies. The first solicitation for hydrogen stations was released on May 27, 2010. Often called “AB118 funding,” this program uses a tiny portion of vehicle registration and smog abatement fees to develop, produce and improve alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels and corresponding automotive technology.
  • South Coast Air Quality Management District Five Cities Project provided funds for Burbank, Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana and Santa Monica to build and operate hydrogen fueling for demonstration fleets. SCAQMD is providing matching funds to transition the stations in Diamond Bar and Burbank from R&D to public access.
  • The California Hydrogen Highway Network (CaH2Net) provided matching funds for several public hydrogen stations. Currently, the last eight stations funded by this program are in planning and construction. (CaH2Net funding shifted to AB118 in 2008.)
  • The Department of Energy’s had three programs to validate hydrogen technology, and to boost research and development to provide hydrogen from diverse domestic resources used in a clean, safe, reliable and affordable manner. DOE provided matching funds for building four of California’s hydrogen stations. The program was not budgeted in 2010 and the stations will close at the end of this year.
  • The Department of Transportation’s hydrogen program focuses on public transportation. Through the Federal Transit Authority (FTA), three California transit agencies have built hydrogen stations and deployed fuel cell buses. DOT provided the matching funds to build stations and buses.

Other California stations were built and are operated outside of government co-funding. Some are through universities and others built by industry or private companies.