As Washington explores future alternative energy sources, the state’s Department of Ecology commissioned a first-of-its-kind programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) focused on green hydrogen energy development. We led the technical and strategic communications work for the PEIS, helping identify what hydrogen projects could look like across the state and evaluating their potential environmental impacts.

Our multidisciplinary team — including experts in environmental sciences, water resources and renewable energy — worked closely with the Department of Ecology to deliver the PEIS on an accelerated timeline. The report provides a framework for local governments, state agencies and tribal communities to evaluate green hydrogen proposals, considering key factors such as environmental impacts, tribal interests, habitat connectivity and land use.

The PEIS also supports broader efforts tied to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, a planned network of green hydrogen producers, suppliers and end-users in the region. Developers can use the document to better understand environmental review requirements.

Bringing Deep Hydrogen Expertise

HDR’s specialized knowledge in hydrogen technology played a critical role in shaping the report. Because it's programmatic — not tied to a single project — our team had to define and evaluate a range of hypothetical project scenarios, including:

• Hydrogen production facilities
• Production facilities with battery energy storage systems
• Storage facilities for hydrogen in both gas and liquid forms

We drew on data from hydrogen facilities across the U.S. and internationally, incorporating insights on transportation corridors, safety standards and regulatory frameworks. We also identified likely development zones, such as areas near highways and within existing industrial corridors.

Our ability to synthesize the information into actionable guidance helped the Department of Ecology meet its ambitious goal of releasing a draft PEIS for public review within just 10 months.

Developing Intentional Stakeholder Outreach

HDR’s strategic communications team played a key role in facilitating meetings, managing logistics and adapting outreach strategies as the project evolved.

One of the unique challenges was the need to pivot from in-person engagement to a fully virtual format due to travel restrictions for state employees. We quickly transitioned to a web-based open house and virtual town hall, so public and tribal stakeholders could provide meaningful input.

Intentional outreach efforts brought two groups into the effort: tribal communities that were likely to be impacted by the infrastructure, and industrial stakeholders who were likely to build production facilities. Their insights were invaluable in shaping the PEIS, helping it serve as a key roadmap for sustainable hydrogen infrastructure and environmental stewardship in Washington.