On-Site Interview: Roxana Bekemohammadi, US Hydrogen Alliance - World Hydrogen North America 2025

Roxana Bekemohammadi, Founder & Executive Director of the US Hydrogen Alliance, discusses the current sentiment and future of the hydrogen economy in the US at the World Hydrogen North America 2025 event.

She highlights the need for creativity in expanding the hydrogen economy and the role of the US Hydrogen Alliance in advocating for hydrogen across all 50 states, including lobbying efforts related to the 45V tax credit and hydrogen hubs. Roxana addresses the uncertainty surrounding the administration's stance on hydrogen, potential cancellations of hydrogen hubs, and the importance of policy and incentives for advancing hydrogen projects. She emphasizes hydrogen's positive impacts on the US economy, job growth, energy security, and national security, noting the Department of Defense's long-term investment in hydrogen fuel cells. Roxana also stresses the need for investment in STEM education to support the hydrogen industry's growth and maintain the US's global standing.

Watch the interview below:

Host: Welcome to World Hydrogen North America 2025 in Houston, brought to you by S&P Global Commodity Insights. I'm joined by Roxana Bekemohammadi, Executive Director and Founder of the U.S. Hydrogen Alliance. Roxana, thanks for joining us.

Roxana: Thank you so much, Santiago, for having me.

Host: We’re here at this major hydrogen event in Houston. What would you say is the overall sentiment in the hydrogen space right now?

Roxana: I think there’s a desire to be more creative about how we can expand the hydrogen economy in the U.S. This event has been a great opportunity for people to come back to the drawing board—talk about what’s worked, what can be improved, and where the next opportunities lie.

Host: What is the U.S. Hydrogen Alliance doing on the Hill?

Roxana: The U.S. Hydrogen Alliance is a business trade association focused on hydrogen advocacy. We work in all 50 states and regularly run legislation through state legislatures. On the Hill, our federal work has largely focused on 45V—the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit—and now, we’ll likely be engaging on policy related to the hydrogen hubs as well.

Host: What have you heard about the Inflation Reduction Act and the Department of Energy’s hydrogen hubs? Anything you can share from Washington?

Roxana: It’s an interesting situation. It looks like the administration is still determining its position on hydrogen. There have been announcements about the potential cancellation of several hydrogen hubs, and naturally, there are questions about whether that will happen, the legality of it, and whether hub developers will have the resources to litigate.

Host: What role does the Hydrogen Alliance play now under this new administration and with all the uncertainty in the low-carbon hydrogen and derivatives space?

Roxana: Our role has always been—and will continue to be—to explain the positive impacts that hydrogen has on the U.S. economy, job growth, our international standing, and our energy security. The U.S. Army has called hydrogen the next tactical fuel—it’s what our allies will rely on. There’s incredible technology emerging that can help us maintain our global standing, not just from a national security perspective but also from an energy and technology commercialization standpoint.

Many countries are advancing manufacturing in hydrogen and fuel cells, and this moment represents a real inflection point. The decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on what the U.S. looks like in the coming decades. It’s not just about hydrogen—it’s about how it connects with other energy sectors and technologies.

We also need to invest more in our education system, particularly in STEM. The U.S. needs more engineers and skilled workers to maintain its leadership in energy innovation.

Host: We’ve often heard hydrogen discussed as a global business issue, but you also mentioned national security. Can you elaborate on that?

Roxana: Absolutely. The Department of Defense has been investing in hydrogen fuel cells for more than seven decades. Many of the advancements in today’s hydrogen technology stem from those early investments. If hydrogen is seen as a tactical fuel, it’s incredibly important.

We’re also seeing more than 100 countries developing national hydrogen strategies. The question becomes—who will own the technology, and who will control hydrogen as an energy commodity? Beyond hydrogen itself, there are derivatives that will shape our economic standing.

Many companies want to invest in the U.S. because it’s a stable and secure place for their capital. But when those companies look abroad, national security questions naturally arise. Ensuring that the U.S. remains a hub for hydrogen innovation isn’t just good economics—it’s essential for our security and competitiveness.

Host: Roxana, thank you for joining us. It’s been a pleasure to have you here.