The California Energy Commission approved about $17 million in grants and contracts, with $11 million for a project to help build and expand the hydrogen fueling station network in Southern California. The $11.2 million grant, approved June 20, goes to the Air Products and Chemicals Co. It is to support construction of six new hydrogen fueling stations and significant upgrades of two others at retail gas facilities and a central fill system at an existing hydrogen plant in the Los Angeles area. “This is the last and largest project that came out of the first AB 118 Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program funding,” said Tobias Muench, hydrogen specialist, commission Emerging Fuels and Technology Office. “The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 metric tons and replace 10 million gallons of gasoline,” Muench said. In addition to the $11.2 million grant from the commission, Muench said Air Products and Chemicals is expected to provide $4.6 million in matching funding for the project. A fifth commission member, Anthony Eggert, who was appointed to a second stint on the commission by Gov. Jerry Brown in May, has not yet been sworn in. Also during the meeting, Rob Oglesby was introduced as the CEC’s new executive director, replacing Melissa Jones. “During executive session on June 15, the commission accepted my recommendation that we make Rob the executive director and also accept Melissa’s resignation as executive director,” commission chair Bob Weisenmiller said. Oglesby and Jones swapped jobs; she takes over his former job as chief deputy director, a position he’d only held since April. Before that, he spent over 13 years as the California Air Resources Board legislative director. Jones has been at the commission since 1977. She was chief deputy director until being named executive director in January 2008. Oglesby thanked the commissioners, saying that he looked forward to the opportunity and would be making operational changes in the near future, without providing specifics.