The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) signed a $12.6 billion agreement to build a “clean,” “renewable” hydrogen hub in California on Wednesday, according to a press release from Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a first-of-its-kind deal, the DOE agreed to provide $1.2 billion to the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the remaining $11.4 billion coming from public and private matching funds, according to press releases from ARCHES and Newsom’s office. Democratic politicians, including Newsom and Democratic Californ…