Major energy producers, midstream operators and petrochemical giants are set to kickstart a string of nationwide hydrogen hubs, four fueled with natural gas, to advance emissions reductions from the hard-to-decarbonize industrial sectors.

Seven hydrogen hubs, aka H2Hubs, were recently selected to receive a total of $7 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to begin the projects. In addition, the sponsors, mostly from the private sector, have earmarked another $40 billion-plus to advance the hubs, sited from Pennsylvania to California.

The funding “is laying the foundation for a new, American-led industry that will propel the global clean energy transition while creating high quality jobs and delivering healthier communities in every pocket of the nation,” DOE...