The Midwest Alliance For Clean Hydrogen submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy to form a regional clean energy hydrogen hub.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has access to up to $7 billion in funds from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a program to establish six to 10 hydrogen hubs around the country.
MachH2 said in a press release that “the Midwest is an optimal region for an H2Hub given its existing hydrogen demand and infrastructure, multiple hard-to-decarbonize industries, favorable geology and policy for carbon storage, its own abundant supply of zerocarbon energy to produce clean hydrogen, and its central, strategic location for national hydrogen distribution and access to major freight routes primed for decarbonization.”
Governors from the Midwest approve of the application, including Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.
“Uniquely situated as the crossroads of America, Indiana and our neighboring midwestern coalition states are essential in developing and deploying a robust hydrogen economy,” Holcomb said. “In Indiana, our expertise and leadership in traditional industries and the economy of the future, combined with the ability to incorporate hydrogen into existing and new manufacturing processes, offer outstanding opportunities to support America’s global competitiveness and our nation's workforce.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. agrees that Northwest Indiana is a “key region” for building the infrastructure needed for a hydrogen hub in the Midwest. It pointed to the Region's ability to geologically store captured carbon, its logistics and industrial networks.
MachH2 members include more than 60 public and private organizations. Members agree the development of hydrogen is an “essential resource” to reaching the nation's goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
“As an energy source, hydrogen does not emit carbon and can be used to reduce emissions from multiple difficult-to-decarbonize sectors of the conomy, including aviation, steelmaking, agriculture, and long-haul transportation,” the press release said.
The Department of Energy is expected to choose the hub locations later this year.
