The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) has announced it has officially submitted a full application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub (H2Hub), funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 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 zero-carbon energy to produce clean hydrogen, and its central, strategic location for national hydrogen distribution and access to major freight routes primed for decarbonization.
MachH2's application is backed by a bipartisan group of Midwestern legislators and Governors, including Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL), Governor Eric Holcomb (R-IN), and Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI).
"The Midwest continues to be a leader in the clean energy economy, from Illinois' passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to multi-state initiatives like MachH2 that redefine what it means to be climate-conscious in our ever-changing economy," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. "This partnership which exemplifies Midwestern innovation and leadership is a crucial step towards establishing an effective clean hydrogen economy in the region while also creating stable, well-paying jobs, and laying the foundation for a cleaner Illinois for future generations."