The goal of the California Hydrogen Highway is to provide a clean, hydrogen transportation in California, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and protect its citizens' heath by reducing harmful vehicle emissions. This concept is being discussed on the east coast of the United States, in particular the Interstate 95 (I-95) corridor. This paper examines the major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the Mid-Atlantic region surrounding I-95 for hydrogen infrastructure needs under three progressively increasing demand scenarios. This effort does not limit itself to state boundaries, recognizing that regional planning should incorporate all neighboring states depending on the geographic proximity of their population centers and their prospects of developing a substantial hydrogen infrastructure.

Within the Mid-Atlantic region, including portions of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, a number of key demand centers for transportation fuel exist. These include, but are not limited to, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (4th ranked nationally), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (7th ranked), and Baltimore-Towson (19th). This effort examined the merits of the proposed concept of a “Hydrogen Highway” along the I-95 corridor. Other key demand centers for transportation fuel with in the I-95 corridor under consideration include, but are not limited to, New York, NY, Providence, RI, and Boston MA.

The approach mirrors the approach used to develop the Pennsylvania Hydrogen Delivery Tradeoff Study. Three demand scenarios are examined, initially at 1 percent of the vehicle miles fueled with hydrogen building to 10 and 30 percent levels. In these demand scenarios, prominent demand centers are identified within the area MSAs and are used to define volume and distance relationships. These values are subsequently used as input to a robust life cycle cost analysis using the DOE H2A model that compares a multitude of hydrogen production and transportation options. This analysis determined which portfolio of investments lead to the lowest delivered cost of hydrogen and the path of most conservative investment. This project also reveals the implications for the energy sources and technologies needed to fuel the I-95 hydrogen economy.