Hydrogen Mixing: A Risky Gamble or a Clever Move?

Hydrogen blending is a hot topic, but is it a smart solution or just a distraction? Critics argue that instead of pushing for hydrogen, we should focus on speeding up electrification and helping workers in fossil fuel industries transition to cleaner jobs. Mixing hydrogen with natural gas sounds simple, but it's not without risks. Hydrogen is toxic and can eat away at pipes. To make it safe, new pipelines might be needed, which could cost a lot of money. Plus, there's a real danger of fires and explosions in neighborhoods where this happens. Even with all the excitement around hydrogen, leaks are bound to happen. When hydrogen escapes into the air, it can cause more global warming than CO2, which defeats the whole purpose of blending it in the first place. Who will foot the bill for all this? The costs of building new pipelines, retiring old ones, and cleaning up any mess are huge. The company behind this project, SDG&E, needs to be fair, involve the communities that will be affected, and be open about their plans. They should also cover the costs of any pilot programs without making customers pay for it. Hydrogen blending might not be the best idea. It's risky, expensive, and could end up doing more harm than good. Maybe it's time to think twice before jumping on the hydrogen bandwagon.