Feb 18, 2026
The United States Hydrogen Alliance (USHA) today announced the public launch of the Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable (H2PLR), a first-of-its-kind national forum designed to coordinate hydrogen policy development across states and regions and accelerate progress toward a durable U.S. hydrogen economy.
Sacramento, CA — The United States Hydrogen Alliance (USHA) today announced the public launch of the Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable (H2PLR), a first-of-its-kind national forum designed to coordinate hydrogen policy development across states and regions and accelerate progress toward a durable U.S. hydrogen economy.
The H2PLR quietly convened its inaugural meeting in December 2025, bringing together state policymakers from across the country in a nonpartisan setting focused on advancing hydrogen policy through coordination, education, and state-led leadership. The 2026–2027 session will continue building on that foundation, with participation by 62 policymakers representing 42 states to date.
The H2PLR is a core component of USHA’s Hydrogen: The Common Bond campaign, which emphasizes that hydrogen’s next phase of growth in the country will be built state by state, through durable policy frameworks that unlock private investment and transcends political cycles.
“Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable, a national hydrogen caucus of state lawmakers, provides the policy certainty the U.S. hydrogen market urgently needs as the federal government bypasses the global race to unleash the potential of hydrogen” said Roxana Bekemohammadi, Founder and Executive Director of the United States Hydrogen Alliance. “By convening state leaders early and deliberately, we are building market-shaping governance infrastructure that strengthens local economies, advances energy security, and reinforces American competitiveness.”
A National Forum Already in Motion
The Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable is the first national forum dedicated exclusively to aligning state-level hydrogen policy development. Participants commit approximately one hour per month to structured discussions, peer learning, and targeted policy briefings supported by USHA and a network of subject-matter experts from government, industry, and academia.
Through the H2PLR, members collaborate to:
Develop nonpartisan, state-level hydrogen legislation and regulations
Explore incentives and financing tools that attract private capital
Coordinate regional hydrogen production, infrastructure, mobility corridors
Support workforce development and local economic growth
Share lessons learned and best practices across the nation
USHA provides H2PLR lawmakers with access to policy frameworks, educational resources, the organization’s in-house hydrogen policy and regulatory repository, and coalition-building support throughout the year.
Hydrogen as a Common Bond
Hydrogen already plays a critical, if often invisible, role in the U.S. economy, supporting fertilizer production, refining, industrial processes, power systems, national security, and space exploration. Today, hydrogen is also emerging as a key solution for decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty transportation, industrial heat, and long-duration energy storage.
As global investment in hydrogen accelerates, the United States faces a pivotal moment. The H2PLR reflects a growing recognition that state leadership will be decisive in shaping how—and how quickly—the U.S. hydrogen economy scales.
The H2PLR is designed not only to advance policy, but to provide stability and optimism across the hydrogen ecosystem by demonstrating that progress continues through coordination, governance, and shared purpose.
“Hydrogen has always been a unifying force across industries, applications, and communities,” Bekemohammadi added. “The Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable embodies that common bond, bringing states together to move the U.S. hydrogen economy forward with intention and optimism.”
Through collaboration, shared leadership, and a commitment to pragmatic progress, the Hydrogen Policy Leaders Roundtable demonstrates that hydrogen is more than an energy solution, it is a common bond capable of strengthening America’s economy, security, and industrial future.
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About the United States Hydrogen Alliance (USHA):
The United States Hydrogen Alliance is a non-profit association of members advocating for the development, deployment and utilization of clean hydrogen in all 50 states. We serve the hydrogen industry through state and federal policy advocacy, market development, and community building. Our mission is to leverage the unique attributes of hydrogen to reduce emissions across traditional sectors, increase energy resiliency and diversity, enhance local economies and workforces, and protect the nation domestically and abroad.
Fourth Annual Hydrogen Policy Leaders Convention:
The U.S. Hydrogen Alliance’s Fourth Annual National Policy Leaders Convention will be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on September 8-10, 2026. This event brings together United States Hydrogen Alliance members, hydrogen companies, and local, state, and federal policymakers nationwide.
This event provides the opportunity for our national alliance to come together to build the policy framework for the upcoming year that will shape the hydrogen economy. This national event will foster new and deepen relationships between the hydrogen industry and policymakers, advancing the energy transition to include hydrogen throughout the country.
Press Contact:
Lexi Schnell
Policy and Communications Manager
United States Hydrogen Alliance