In a move to accelerate the shift toward clean energy, California’s First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2) has selected PlanetBids as its procurement platform of record—aiming to build the state’s first transparent, scalable marketplace for renewable hydrogen.

Formed by a partnership between the City of Lancaster and the City of Industry, FPH2 is the first public hydrogen utility in the United States. The mission: to help cities, transit agencies, and industries buy and sell green hydrogen more efficiently which will support California’s aggressive climate goals while keeping costs in check.

To get there, FPH2 is turning to PlanetBids, a proven eProcurement platform widely used in the public sector. The software allows agencies to post bids, onboard vendors, track performance, and manage the full procurement process online. Crucially, it also ensures audit-level transparency and regulatory compliance—both key in building trust among suppliers and government stakeholders.

“PlanetBids gives us the foundation to create a truly open, competitive hydrogen marketplace,” says Jason Caudle, CEO of First Public Hydrogen Authority. “That means better pricing, faster procurement, and greater confidence in the integrity of every transaction.”

The platform’s automation tools will help FPH2 reduce manual tasks, vet suppliers, and give its members access to real-time pricing and delivery options all in a secure, cloud-based environment. Vendors, in turn, get a frictionless way to compete for contracts, with full visibility into bid requirements and evaluation criteria.

As demand for green hydrogen grows across transportation and heavy industry, FPH2’s approach could serve as a blueprint for other states and other countries that are looking to scale up renewable energy infrastructure without sacrificing public trust. ◊