9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Sierra Northern Railway Tour: West Sacramento Facility Tour of Hydrogen Locomotive

Experience the future of rail with a tour of Sierra Northern Railways SacPort facility and a demo of Sierra Northern Railway’s hydrogen fuel cell locomotive.

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

1:40 PM – 2:10 PM

Keynote Presentations

2:10 PM – 3:00 PM

Panel: Navigating the Hydrogen Landscape in a New Administration: Insights and Future Directions

With new leadership at both the state and federal levels, learn of insights into the evolving policy and regulatory landscape, highlighting challenges and key opportunities for California to lead in hydrogen innovation. Industry experts will discuss the latest developments in infrastructure needs, funding mechanisms, as well as policy and market barriers. This panel will: 

• Explore ways to work with lawmakers to mitigate adverse consequences of an uncertain policy environment and develop collaborative strategies to build a stable market for hydrogen. 

• Discuss differences between state and federal incentives and regulations and suggest strategies for collaboration to maximize hydrogen adoption.  

• Review changes to federal policy and programs, including hydrogen hubs, and how they will impact the future of hydrogen energy in California. 

• Understand the potential of the Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit to drive innovation and investment in hydrogen production. 

3:00 PM – 3:20 PM

Keynote Presentations

3:20 PM – 3:40 PM

Coffee & Networking Break

3:40 PM – 4:30 PM

Panel: Building a Hydrogen Economy that Generates Widespread Opportunity 

This session will explore how policymakers create economic opportunities for businesses, communities, and the workforce from a robust hydrogen economy. Lawmakers and stakeholders alike will gain insights into strategies, policies, and partnerships to stimulate private investment, scale hydrogen production, encourage hydrogen end uses, and tackle key challenges. This panel will: 

• Hear from industry experts about how a thriving hydrogen economy can fuel job creation across multiple sectors, from manufacturing to research and infrastructure development, and how communities can benefit from hydrogen investments.   

• Policymakers will learn from hydrogen industry stakeholders about overcoming barriers to adoption in California. Experts will highlight solutions like integrating hydrogen into existing infrastructure, harnessing hydrogen for zero emission vehicle goals, and leveraging public-private collaboration to build a hydrogen economy that creates opportunities for all Californians.  

• Policymakers will learn how recent changes in government incentives, corporate climate targets, and environmental regulations may impact the development of hydrogen markets, and what they can do to mitigate adverse impacts to maintain the economic development and environmental benefits of hydrogen. 

4:30 PM – 4:50 PM

Keynote Presentations

4:50 PM – 5:00 PM

Closing Remarks: Senator Anna Caballero

5:00 PM – 6:20 PM

Welcome Reception & Networking

7:50 AM – 8:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM – 8:40 AM

Opening Remarks: Asm. Lori Wilson

8:40 AM – 9:30 AM

Keynote Presentations

9:30 AM – 9:40 AM

Keynote: Senator McNerney

9:40 AM – 10:00 AM

Keynote Presentations

10:00 AM – 10:20 AM

Coffee Break

10:20 AM – 10:30 AM

Keynote Presentations

10:30 AM – 11:20 AM

Panel: Hydrogen Pipeline Blending – Transitioning the Gas System

Integrating hydrogen into California’s existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure offers a promising pathway to accelerate the state’s clean energy transition. Policymakers will be provided key insights from hydrogen industry stakeholders on the technical, regulatory, and economic steps required to make hydrogen blending into existing pipelines a reality. This panel will:  

• Explore how well-designed regulations can drive infrastructure readiness, ensure safety, and attract investment.   

• Suggest steps policymakers should take to support necessary pipeline modifications and investments to expedite hydrogen blending. 

• Consider policy-driven solutions to advance technical solutions in blended pipelines.   

11:20 AM – 11:30 AM

Keynote Presentations

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Lunch

12:30 PM – 12:40 PM

Welcome Back Remarks

12:40 PM – 12:50 PM

Keynote Presentations

12:50 PM – 1:30 PM

Panel: Hydrogen Offtake in California

California’s path to a thriving hydrogen economy relies on securing robust and expanding consumption. Investors will not support new hydrogen production projects without demand certainty. Policymakers will be guided through the vital role they play in facilitating and incentivizing hydrogen demand. Hydrogen industry stakeholders will provide actionable insights on how state policies can support offtake agreements, encourage private-sector participation, and advance California’s decarbonization and economic development goals. This panel will: 

• Unpack the significance of hydrogen offtake agreements in de-risking investments, ensuring project bankability, and fostering long-term growth for California’s hydrogen ecosystem. 

• Provide perspectives from hydrogen end users on the policy changes needed to foster successful offtake agreements and accelerate hydrogen adoption. 

• Convey practical steps for aligning hydrogen offtake agreements with California’s broader climate and economic objectives, increasing the likelihood that the state remains a hub for clean energy innovation. 

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM

Keynote Presentations

1:50 PM – 2:30 PM

Panel: The Importance of Biomass to California’s Hydrogen Future

Abundant agricultural and forest biomass present California with exciting opportunities for hydrogen production through biomass gasification and pyrolysis. Policymakers will see how these innovative methods can transform agricultural waste into low carbon hydrogen while capturing emissions and providing critical markets for biowaste and helping to mitigate the state’s devastating wildfires. This panel will: 

• Explore how agricultural and forest waste can be used as a feedstock for renewable hydrogen, reducing emissions while supporting the agricultural sector. 

• Discuss the dual benefits of reducing agricultural waste and fostering rural economic development through hydrogen production. 

• Examine the steps policy makers can take to encourage the infrastructure investments required to support hydrogen production from biomass. 

2:30 PM – 2:40 PM

Keynote Presentations

2:40 PM – 3:10 PM

Dessert & Coffee Break

3:10 PM – 3:50 PM

Panel: What Other Countries are Getting Right About Hydrogen 

As California strives to build a world-class hydrogen economy, lessons from abroad can offer valuable lessons for stakeholders. California policymakers will gain insights from successful hydrogen policies around the world, highlighting the strategies, incentives, and regulatory frameworks that have accelerated hydrogen adoption abroad. This panel will: 

• Discuss successful foreign policies, programs and incentives that support hydrogen production, delivery, storage, end-use, and workforce training to build a robust hydrogen economy.  

• Assess how these international best practices can be adapted to California’s unique landscape, enabling the state to stay competitive, attract investment, and drive innovation in clean hydrogen. 

• Understand actionable recommendations from hydrogen industry experts on tailoring global policy successes to California’s needs, ensuring the state remains at the forefront of hydrogen innovation. 

3:50 PM – 4:40 PM

Keynote Presentations & Panel

4:40 PM – 4:50 PM

Closing Remarks

4:50 PM – 5:00 PM

Final Keynote: Senator Archuleta

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Closing Reception