LA’s Controversial Plan to Switch Gas Plant to Hydrogen

By Desert Star Staff

The hydrogen produced by the new plant will be generated using clean sources like wind and solar energy, making it a “green” energy source. However, environmental activists are concerned about the potential dangers of hydrogen combustion, which can lead to nitrogen oxide emissions and increased risk of explosions.

Additionally, leaky pipes pose a risk due to the combustible nature of hydrogen. Despite these concerns, LADWP assures the public that the threat has been minimized, citing the use of hydrogen by space shuttles and Toyota’s hydrogen-fueled Mirai.

The city plans to complete phase one of the project by 2029 and use 100% renewable energy by 2035. While the plant will continue to burn gas for some time, it will gradually transition to entirely burning hydrogen. LADWP emphasizes that their plants contribute only 1% of NOx emissions and estimates that it will be 0.1% by 2035, much lower than nearby LAX International Airport emissions.

Vehicles that enter and exit frequently produce uncontrolled NOx emissions.

Environmentalists have expressed concern about the potential for leaky pipes when transporting combustible materials through pipelines. This risk is exceptionally high with smaller molecules like hydrogen, which can fit through even minor leaks and potentially lead to dangerous explosions.

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Caretto from Communities for a Better Environment worries about the possibility of these leaks forming due to embrittlement, as they can be difficult to detect once they occur. However, LADWP’s Ting argues that hydrogen fuel technology is familiar, and scientists have become skilled at minimizing these risks.

Toyota has been producing hydrogen vehicles for almost a decade, and they have customers who use hydrogen fueling stations with no issues. The city plans to complete phase one of the project by 2029, with the ultimate goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2035. While the plant will continue burning gas for several more years, the hope is to transition to burning hydrogen eventually.