WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, made up of public and private partners in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, will receive significant federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to produce low carbon hydrogen for power generation, natural gas distribution systems, and agricultural use.
“This investment will be an important part of our energy future, unlocking innovation and new sources of energy that will benefit our whole state,” said Klobuchar. “The combined public/private investments will create good-paying jobs and power Minnesota for years to come.”
“The clean energy transition is happening—the question is whether we lead or follow. I want us to lead,” said Smith. “This funding will jumpstart the production of hydrogen from clean energy resources in Minnesota to help decarbonize various sectors of the economy, while creating more than 1,500 good paying jobs in our state. I’m proud of our work to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made investments like these possible.”
The Heartland Hydrogen Hub was one of just seven proposed clean hydrogen hubs nationwide selected to receive funding through the Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.
The Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program and this funding were made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith helped pass in 2021.
The Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program will create a national network of clean hydrogen producers, consumers, and connective infrastructure while supporting the production, storage, and delivery of clean hydrogen. These hydrogen hubs will bolster the deployment of clean hydrogen to generate clean power as well as create a new form of energy storage. The hubs will create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs across the country while strengthening America’s energy security.
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