Authored by Michael Dorgan, Policy Manager
The CTE Policy Team is charging headfirst into spring with a renewed focus on our legislative priorities. We are actively advocating for our key funding programs and mechanisms and strengthening our network of transit advocates and allies on Capitol Hill and beyond.
CTE Senior Project Manager, Niki Rinaldi El-Abd, visited Washington D.C. in April in her capacity as a member of the APTA Board of Directors, attending several legislative meetings and providing a boots-on-the-ground perspective from CTE’s Berkeley office. Niki, along with CTE Policy Advisor Anna Hansen and myself, met with key offices including Senators Padilla, Schiff, and Schumer, as well as Representative Lateefah Simon. During these meetings, the team highlighted critical project developments in California, including the ARCHES Hydrogen Hub, the EPA Clean Ports project at the Port of Oakland, and Low-No projects throughout the state. These programs are of critical importance to CTE members, especially those involved in the hydrogen industry. During the meeting with Senator Schumer staff, the CTE team committed to keeping the staff informed on policies and incentives that could drive renewable energy initiatives in the Northeast.
CTE’s Executive Director, Dan Raudebaugh was also on the Hill for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Council’s (HFCBC) Advocacy Day. Dan, along with myself and other HFCBC members, met with a combined 15 offices, both Democrat and Republican, to discuss support for the hydrogen industry and key programs such as Low-No and the Transit Vehicle Innovation and Deployment Centers (TVIDC) program.
CTE's Policy Team has been monitoring the reception of hydrogen-focused projects by the Trump Administration and congressional allies. Early signs were discouraging, including political targeting of the DOE Hydrogen Hubs in blue states, the lack of funding for hydrogen-focused Low-No projects in the 2025 funding round, and the dismantling of the DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies office. However, recent developments suggest a growing openness to hydrogen within federal transportation funding programs.
The Buses and Bus Facilities Awards released in February 2026 included several projects with hydrogen facility components. The DOE Hydrogen Hubs program has also seen renewed activity, with all hubs excepting ARCHES (CA) and the Pacific Northwest successfully drawing funds and beginning to navigate Phase 2 approvals.
More recently, four House Republicans introduced the American Energy Dominance Act to extend the construction deadline for the 45V hydrogen production tax credit from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2033. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), and Max Miller (R-OH-07) are cosponsors and the North America's Building Trades Unions has endorsed the legislation. This proposed reversal of the tax credit’s deadline shift in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’, passed last summer, reflects growing bipartisan interest in maintaining an “all of the above” energy approach ahead of a potentially competitive midterm cycle.
If you have questions about any of these developments, or would like to coordinate with CTE's advocacy efforts, please reach out to Michael Dorgan, Policy Manager (dorgan@cte.tv)
