This project implements green hydrogen technology in transit for the first time in the State of Maryland. The new hydrogen fuel production and fueling station will operate at the County's David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations Center (EMTOC) in Gaithersburg. This facility will power the County's first 26 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, which will be procured as part of the Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The County will partner with industry experts, including the Center for Transportation and the Environment and Trillium, to implement the project.

Initial planning, including a Program of Requirements, was completed as part of the County's Zero Emissions Transition Plan in FY23. Preliminary design began in FY26 and the facility is anticipated to be completed in FY28.

Costs increase due to updated design estimate and increased scope, including a larger electrolyzer, to support additional hydrogen fuel cell buses.

This project will reduce carbon emissions, increase the reliability and sustainability of the bus fleet, and is an essential step in the transition to a zero-emissions fleet to reach the goals in the County's Climate Action Plan. The new hydrogen fuel production facility will produce hydrogen fuel that is greener than traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen, as the fuel will be produced from water using zero-emission electrolysis. Similarly, fuel cell electric buses can provide uninterrupted service on bus routes that have a standard daily range of over 150 miles, which is beyond the maximum range currently allowed by zero-emission battery-electric buses.

Electricity needed to produce hydrogen fuel at this facility will be generated by a solar microgrid to be constructed at EMTOC.

Funding for this project includes a Low or No Emission Grant from the Federal Transit Administration, appropriated via an FY24 supplemental in Federal Aid for the amount of $14,875,975. In FY25, grant funding in this project was shifted to Bus Rapid Transit: Veirs Mill Road (P501913) to reflect funds from this grant and the County's required match to be used to purchase fuel cell electric buses for the new BRT service. In FY26, $1.385 million in Current Revenue was swapped from P501913 for an equivalent amount of Federal Aid to ensure that grant funds are spent in accordance with the FTA grant agreement.

Federal Transit Administration, Department of General Services, Department of Finance, Department of Permitting Services, Utility Companies, Industry Expert Partners