We need your help! Submit testimony to support SB 685 the Hydrogen Oversight and Public notice bill. 

Find the testimony guidelines, talking points, and template below. 

BACKGROUND:

The first hearing on SB 685 (Hydrogen Blending Oversight and Public Notice) will be on Monday, February 10th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join us in testifying verbally and or submitting written comments by Wednesday, February 12th, 3:00 p.m.

In December of 2023, NW Natural began blending small amounts of hydrogen into the natural gas system at their Southeast Portland location. Since Oregon, unlike Washington, has no regulations requiring notification of customers or regulators, customers were not made aware of the hydrogen blending experimentation.

Oregon's current regulatory framework lacks sufficient oversight and notice requirements  for hydrogen blending into natural gas residential home pipelines. This regulatory gap poses significant risks for ratepayers, public safety, and environmental health. SB 685 seeks to close these regulatory gaps by requiring notification of hydrogen blending to the Public Utility Commission (PUC). 

HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY

TALKING POINTS

• HEALTH AND SAFETY 
  • Hydrogen ignites more easily and is more explosive than methane. This increases the danger of explosions in buildings. Methane leaks inside residential and commercial buildings when appliances are in use and when they are turned off. Hydrogen could make these leaks more dangerous.
  • The American Medical Association recognizes the dangers of blending hydrogen and “natural” gas. Hydrogen may possibly lead to more emissions of nitrogen oxides, raising risks of respiratory diseases.
  • Blending hydrogen with methane prolongs our dependency on fossil fuels. Burning methane gas produces numerous health-harming pollutants and fuels the climate crisis we are experiencing at this very moment.
  • While hydrogen blends below 6% are generally safe, higher percentage blends added to the natural gas stream result in a greater risk of pipeline leaks, embrittlement of pipelines, stove and water heater malfunctions, and explosions.

• COSTS
  • As you get to 15% by volume blend, every mile of existing pipeline will need to be retrofitted – at an estimated cost of at least $239,000 per mile of pipe- with rate-payers likely carrying this financial burden. 
  • Without prior approval, utilities may transfer unanticipated maintenance and operational costs to ratepayers, raising utility bills.

• LACK OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS
  • NW Natural is acting without any oversight, accountability, or transparency around the amount of hydrogen being blended or the health and safety impacts that blending could have on customers.
  • NW Natural did not notify its customers of this hydrogen blending experimentation even though the for-profit utility is using ratepayer funds to conduct this experimentation. 

• CLIMATE
  • The feedstock required for turquoise hydrogen is methane gas, a fossil fuel. Emissions from methane gas extraction, production, and leakage are significant. The climate impact of methane is particularly concerning because, over a 20-year timeframe, methane is 90 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
  • Methane leaks also produce carbon emissions. When methane is used to produce hydrogen, leaks in production and transmission add emissions even if carbon is captured in production.
  • Blended hydrogen has a lower energy content. Given the limits to hydrogen blending, and due to its lower energy content by volume than methane, a blend of 20% hydrogen and 80% methane could only reduce carbon emissions by at most 7%.

TESTIMONY TEMPLATE