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 zerocarbon 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.”
“Uniquely situated as The Crossroads of America, Indiana and our neighboring Midwestern
coalition states are essential in developing and deploying a robust hydrogen economy,” said
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “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.”
“Michigan is proud to be part of this multi-state effort to create a clean hydrogen economy in the
region that will create good-paying jobs, expand economic opportunity, promote energy
independence, and improve public health outcomes,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen
Whitmer. “Establishing a clean hydrogen hub in our region will also help Michigan achieve its
goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Let’s get it done.”
Made up of more than 60 public and private entities representing every phase in the hydrogen
value chain, MachH2 members are united in a shared vision to create an immediately scalable
hydrogen hub in the Midwest that deploys the region’s abundant carbon-free energy to create a
clean hydrogen economy and reduce emissions across multiple heavy emitting sectors. A full list
of MachH2 alliance members is viewable here.
When made with clean energy, hydrogen is an essential resource in meeting our nation’s goal of
achieving 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 economy,
including aviation, steelmaking, agriculture, and long-haul transportation.
Just as the Midwest played a leadership role in transitioning the U.S. to an economic and
industrial giant in the mid-1800s, it is now well-positioned to lead a new energy renaissance
fueled by clean, affordable, and safe hydrogen. MachH2 is built specifically to accelerate this
clean hydrogen transformation, advancing the delivery of abundant, reliable, and increasingly
affordable clean energy solutions in the coming decade and beyond to achieve DOE goals.
After announcing its bid and initial concept paper in November of 2022, MachH2 received a
letter of encouragement from the DOE in December of 2022. In February, MachH2 announced
it had joined forces with the Indiana-led Midwest Hydrogen Corridor Consortium as a single
hub.
The DOE is expected to select 6-10 hubs later this year.
