Why It Matters

The First Public Hydrogen Authority enters into federal lobbying as the Trump administration dismantles IRA-funded hydrogen hub projects worth billions, while Congress maintains active legislative efforts to shape the sector’s future.

The Authority’s lobbying focus on "general issues related to hydrogen" will directly impact several policy battlegrounds:

  • Section 45V Tax Credits: Congressional debate over whether nuclear and blue hydrogen qualify for production credits remains unresolved
  • Infrastructure Standards: The Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act mandates pipeline studies directly relevant to hydrogen distribution networks
  • Federal Funding: Regional hydrogen hub appropriations face severe cuts, making advocacy for federal support increasingly consequential

By the Numbers

The First Public Hydrogen Authority marks 2025 as the start of its federal advocacy efforts, retaining Miller Strategies LLC, a firm with deep energy sector expertise, and which has generated approximately $53 million in lobbying expenditures from 2017 to 2025 across over 50 clients.

Jeffrey Miller brings extensive private-sector energy experience representing major clients including Southern Co. ($2.06M) and Occidental Petroleum Corp. ($2.67M).

Lucas J. Wallwork brings approximately seven years of direct congressional staff experience, including service as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for House Republicans and critical experience as a Staff Assistant on the House Energy and Commerce Committee—the panel with primary jurisdiction over national energy policy.

The hiring of Jeffrey Miller—a veteran energy lobbyist—and Lucas J. Wallwork—a former House Energy and Commerce Committee staffer—establishes institutional capacity for sustained engagement.

The Agenda

The First Public Hydrogen Authority is lobbying on "general issues related to hydrogen," according to its registration with Miller Strategies LLC. The Authority’s broad mandate suggests it will engage across multiple hydrogen policy fronts: production tax incentives like the Section 45V clean hydrogen credit, federal funding for regional hydrogen hubs, pipeline infrastructure standards, and the regulatory framework governing hydrogen as an energy source.

Broader Context

The Authority enters federal advocacy amid historic policy turbulence. President Trump’s January 2025 executive order "Unleashing American Energy" immediately froze Inflation Reduction Act disbursements, triggering the cancellation of approximately $7.56 billion in hydrogen hub funding—including flagship projects in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Yet the policy landscape remains fractured. 21 House Republicans publicly opposed elimination of hydrogen tax incentives, while state governments are mobilizing alternative funding. The Section 45V clean hydrogen tax credit debate has fractured even Democratic support, with disagreement over whether nuclear-powered hydrogen qualifies for support.

Infrastructure remains a critical bottleneck, though Congress advanced the PIPES Act of 2025 with $804 million for hydrogen pipeline safety standards.

Between The Lines

Despite significant federal funding cuts, Congress remains actively engaged in hydrogen policy. Members are advancing multiple bills addressing hydrogen infrastructure and incentives, including the Innovative and Safe Hydrogen Transportation Act (S.2980), which mandates studies on composite materials for hydrogen pipelines.

The Section 45V tax credit debate reveals deep fractures even among Democrats. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) criticized Treasury rules as a "swing and a miss" for failing to adequately support nuclear hydrogen, while surprising Republican support emerged—Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) indicated a potential "rescue" for the credits.

Regional hydrogen hub battles dominate Member communications, with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) warning of over 10,000 job losses from Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub cuts.

Competitive Landscape

The hydrogen lobbying space is crowded with well-funded competitors. The Hydrogen Jobs Now Coalition focuses specifically on Section 45V tax credits. Air Liquide USA LLC lobbies heavily on tax provisions and Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs with quarterly spending in the hundreds of thousands. Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd., an Australian green hydrogen producer, maintains significant lobbying presence throughout 2024-2025.

The Bottom Line

The First Public Hydrogen Authority enters federal advocacy at a precarious moment for hydrogen policy. The Trump administration has slashed roughly $7.5 billion in hydrogen hub funding, yet Congress maintains bipartisan interest in hydrogen infrastructure and tax credits. By hiring Miller Strategies LLC—a firm with deep energy sector relationships and a lobbying team featuring House Energy and Commerce Committee experience—the Authority has positioned itself to navigate this volatility.

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