Hydrogen is an essential fuel source for a zero-carbon future. It is energy-dense, capable of long-term storage, and emits only water vapor when generating electricity within a fuel cell. The United States has made massive investments in clean hydrogen technology and infrastructure at the federal level to help propel the country into a cleaner energy future. Concurrently, many states have established zero-emission fleet goals that will require a significant expansion of hydrogen fueling infrastructure across the country. The rarity and novelty of these fueling stations means that most authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) have little to no knowledge of hydrogen—often navigating the process for the first time with each project. This can lead to uncertainty during due diligence, delays during permitting, and inspection miscommunications during construction.

Whether it’s a hydrogen fueling station in Texas, a hydrogen storage and dispensing system in Florida, or a stationary hydrogen fuel cell in California, Kimley-Horn has worked with a variety of AHJs, code officials, and inspectors to successfully review compliance and deliver hydrogen infrastructure. Through years of permitting hydrogen storage and fueling projects, we’ve developed best practices and strategies for ensuring a smooth design, permitting, and construction process. During this presentation, we will delve into:
- Important considerations for due diligence
- Common issues that arise during permitting
- Frequent questions from local fire marshals
- Recurrent code misinterpretations by code officials
- Keeping projects on track through these hiccups

As the levelized cost of hydrogen continues to diminish and more fleet owners look to transition to this zero-emission technology, due diligence and permitting will only become more relevant and important. Our lessons learned will empower others to educate their local AHJs so that these critical projects can stay on-schedule and on-budget.