PHILADELPHIA, PA – Maya van Rossum, the leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, is voicing significant safety concerns regarding the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) new Hydrogen Bus Project. The initiative, set to pilot this fall, involves integrating ten hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses in Philadelphia, aiming for a zero-emissions fleet by 2045.
The pilot project will operate out of the Midvale bus depot, where SEPTA plans to store 45,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen across three tanks. This development is part of the larger MACH2 Hydrogen Hub initiative, with plans to expand hydrogen storage to six of SEPTA’s eight bus depots. The financial commitment for establishing hydrogen infrastructure ranges from $6.5 million at the smallest depot to $16.1 million at the largest.
Van Rossum points out that three bus depots are dangerously close to public parks and one next to an elementary school. The public’s lack of awareness and absence of formal input on these plans heighten the concerns, given hydrogen’s high flammability and the difficulty in detecting leaks due to its odorless and colorless properties.
The risks associated with hydrogen include its ability to leak through tiny openings, its rapid dispersal compared to other gases like natural gas and propane, and the potential for catastrophic fires or explosions. The proximity of these storage sites to densely populated areas, sensitive infrastructure, and recreational zones poses a significant safety threat.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is pressing for a comprehensive safety analysis, specialized emergency response training, and public disclosure of the risks involved with hydrogen storage. They have filed a Right to Know Law Request with SEPTA for more information and are updating the community through their website.
For additional details and updates on the safety concerns associated with the Hydrogen Bus Project, residents and interested parties are encouraged to visit the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s website.