Unlocking First-of-a-Kind Projects through Clean Industrial Hubs

Additional contributors: Ben Skinner (RMI), Clara Edlridge (Mission Possible Partnership), Doug Watson (Mission Possible Partnership), Faustine Delasalle (Mission Possible Partnership), Hadia Sheerazi (RMI), Hannah Barton (RMI), Hartej Singh (RMI), Julia Thayne (former RMI), Kaitlyn Ramirez (RMI), Kurt Kargou (former RMI), Nocona Sanders (RMI), Pablo Munoz (RMI)

From August 2022 to December 2024, Mission Possible Partnership and RMI, with support from the Bezos Earth Fund, accelerated the development of clean industrial hubs in California and Texas, partnering with 18 first-of-a-kind clean industrial projects to grow regional economies, strengthen local workforces, and protect energy security while reducing industry’s environmental impacts.

Participating in a clean industrial hub can significantly improve project success: 50 percent of the 18 projects we supported reached a final investment decision (FID), compared with 20 percent globally. Once built, these projects will mobilize $34 billion of public and private investment and reduce emissions by half a billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by 2050 (assuming that all projects become operational).

This report shares insights from the development of these clean industrial hubs and demonstrates how participating in a hub enhances outcomes for projects, the climate, and communities. It details how creating an enabling ecosystem of private finance, public policy, and community engagement is essential to de-risk projects and help innovative first movers. Additionally, it describes the necessary steps to successfully develop a clean industrial hub.

The second half of the report includes lessons learned and case studies from first-of-a-kind projects in six key sectors: low-emissions hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, electrolytic ammonia and methanol (used in the chemicals and shipping sectors), cement and concrete, low-emissions steel, and zero-emissions trucking.

We would like to thank the Bezos Earth Fund for its partnership and support for this work. We would also like to thank our colleagues, the businesses and communities across California and Texas, workshop participants, and other collaborators for their time and commitment to the creation of clean industrial hubs.