Casey pushes natural gas, nuclear for hydrogen tax credit

By Nico Portuondo | 05/28/2024 01:47 PM EDT

The Pennsylvania Democrat also wants to benefit former coal mines.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) at the Capitol in April. He's part of a group of moderates urging the administration to reconsider hydrogen tax credit standards. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is pressing the White House to expand its criteria for implementing the Inflation Reduction Act hydrogen tax credit to ensure traditional energy sources like natural gas and nuclear benefit. He’s also making a pitch for coal mines.

Casey, who faces a reelection battle in the fall, sent a letter to President Joe Biden arguing for changes to proposed guidance released in December to make sure hydrogen producers in the Keystone State can prosper.

“I urge your administration to change course from its initial approach to the hydrogen tax credit, which has confused and dismayed the clean energy industry upon which the success of the U.S. hydrogen economy depends,” Casey wrote.

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Casey continued, “Leaders of business and labor, especially in southwestern Pennsylvania, are concerned that this once-in-a-generation opportunity will be lost.”

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