there are alternatives - Proton Technologies (Alberta based) already has an test operation in Saskatchewan to basically extract hydrogen from depleted oil fields by pumping in oxygen and taking out hydrogen while the c02 stays underground. Already it is cheaper than steam reforming. They estimate hundreds of years of hydrogen and way cheaper than electrolysis.

Another is Aurora a startup from U of T - which extracts hydrogen from natural gas by using microwave pyrolisis (heating up so the carbon precipitates as a solid) If the microwave heating is done with renewable that it would be a co2 free method to take advantage of vast reserves of natural gas and existing infrastructure.