BayoTech Shifts Focus: New Hydrogen Hub Site to Drive Faster, Cleaner Deployment in Northern California

BayoTech has hit pause on its original plan to build a hydrogen production hub at the Port of Stockton, deciding instead to move the project to a new site somewhere else in Northern California. The switch comes down to a need for speed — plus a desire to avoid legal battles with environmental groups concerned about air quality and health impacts.

Environmental pushback forces a change of course

The Stockton facility was supposed to pump out 2 tons of hydrogen per day, powering everything from hydrogen fuel cells in trucks to industrial applications. But progress hit a wall when the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and Earthjustice filed lawsuits, raising concerns over pollution and compliance with California’s tough emissions rules. Rather than getting bogged down in court, BayoTech pulled the plug and chose to relocate to a site with fewer legal hurdles and less public pushback — a smart move to get clean hydrogen flowing faster.

New site, same mission: local, low-emission hydrogen

Even with the location change, BayoTech isn’t slowing down. The company is sticking with its game plan: a distributed model built around small-scale SMR units that cut down on transportation needs and make it easier to meet local demand. In line with California’s ambitious zero-emission technology goals, it’s a strategy focused on industrial decarbonization and building out the hydrogen infrastructure needed to get there.

While the exact spot for the new Northern California site hasn’t been revealed yet, BayoTech says it’s aiming to break ground on multiple hubs starting in 2025. Expect more details to drop in the coming months as the company ramps up efforts to bring fast, clean hydrogen production to the frontlines of the state’s clean energy push.