The federal government’s new strategy recommends using public funding to reduce the risk borne by private-sector investors; support for R&D; new codes, standards and regulations to encourage hydrogen adoption; and collaborating with other governments to develop regional plans for the gas. (The Logic)

Talking point: The hydrogen sector could employ over 350,000 people and have revenues of more than $50 billion a year by 2050, Ottawa estimated, with the gas providing 30 per cent of the country’s end-use energy. But Wednesday’s report doesn’t include specific new programs to get there, instead identifying applications like transportation and power generation as future opportunities. Hydrogen is one of five new national strategies promised in Ottawa’s $15-billion 2030 climate plan, announced last week. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has said the government sees its emission-reduction proposal as an industrial policy to encourage cleantech in Canada.