Sen. Ossoff, Commissioner Echols met with Georgia business leaders, public and private partners, energy companies, universities, transportation agencies, and more
Braintrust aims to strengthen energy security & attract economic investment to Georgia
Smyrna, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols this week held the first meeting of their Georgia Hydrogen Energy Braintrust at Georgia Power’s McDonough-Atkinson Plant.
Sen. Ossoff and Commissioner Echols launched the braintrust last month alongside Georgia Tech to strengthen energy security and attract new economic investment to the state.
The two were joined by dozens of key leaders in the public and private sectors, including Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA-01) and leaders in energy, transportation and logistics, education and research, and more.
“Commissioner Echols and I are committed to working together to advance Georgia’s interests and draw more innovation, research, manufacturing, and applications for hydrogen technology for decades to come to our state,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“Our state and region benefits from entities like Georgia Tech, UPS, Southern Company, Kia, SK, and soon-to-be Hyundai calling Georgia home,” said Commissioner Echols. “Hydrogen will be yet another magnet for the Southeast and our Hydrogen Energy Braintrust wants to position Georgia to play a leadership role in this technology.”
“The state of Georgia is in an excellent position to leverage our regional advantages in the evolving energy sector, especially with hydrogen,” said Tim Lieuwen, Executive Director of the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech. “There are significant opportunities spanning research, manufacturing, low-cost energy supplies, and new jobs that cut across production, distribution, and utilization of hydrogen.
The group discussed how they can all work together to support and advocate for Georgia’s participation in the Southeast Hydrogen Hub Coalition, which is bidding to win funding from the Department of Energy’s Regional Hydrogen Hub grant program, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In June 2022, Sen. Ossoff led a coalition of Georgia energy companies, universities, public transportation agencies, and clean energy advocates in support of the Southeast Hydrogen Hub proposal.
In October, Sen. Ossoff’s office convened key partners in Camden County to discuss coastal Georgia’s vital role in this cutting-edge energy infrastructure.
The group also discussed how to leverage Georgia’s assets as a center for transportation and logistics to attract additional hydrogen investments, hosting Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, leading aviation and fuel companies, and more.
The Braintrust will meet on a recurring basis to discuss other key aspects of Georgia’s hydrogen future, including workforce development.
