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:

• 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.
• The California Hydrogen Highway Network (CaH2Net) was established in 2004 as a vision for ensuring that readily, accessible hydrogen fueling infrastructure is in place for consumers as vehicles being to reach the early commercial marketplace. CaH2Net includes 14 stations that are accessible to the public. In addition, the program provides matching funds to build new publically accessible stations, and expand or upgrade an existing station.
• The Department of Energy’s has 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 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.