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Florida and South Korean officials signed a pact to create a hydrogen research hub, set to break ground next month in Polk County.

Several state consortiums met the April 7 deadline to be among the nation’s first hydrogen hubs as the U.S. Department of Energy begins to evaluate applications for funding.

The Department of Energy advised proposed consortiums backed by states and others competing for a share of $7 billion in federal funds for their regional hydrogen hubs to get their permits, cost projections and community outreach plans in order.

Two new hydrogen hubs have been formed with a Southwest collaborative among Arizona, Nevada and the Navajo Nation as well as a six-state Southeast group featuring lead utilities.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has formed a regional hydrogen hub with the governors of Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin as states continue to jockey in the race for federal funds and national eminence.

California will seek some of the $8 billion President Joe Biden set aside for building hydrogen production hubs, joining a crowded race among states angling for the money.

The world’s first double-decker hydrogen buses arrived in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Oct. 7, a city best known as a base for some of the world’s top oil companies.

Nikola Corp. announced it received a minimum order for 2,500 heavy-duty electrified refuse trucks from Republic Services Inc. that could expand to 5,000 over the life of the agreement.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles could soon be more common on the streets of Australia’s biggest city after Hyundai Motor Co. reached a supply deal for the zero-emission fuel with local producers.

Green energy companies ReCarbon and HYZON Motors partnered July 23 in an effort to propel hydrogen-powered truck projects globally.