ST. PAUL – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced an up to $925 million investment in the Heartland Hydrogen Hub to boost the project, which aims to produce low-carbon hydrogen, decarbonize regional supply chains and create clean energy jobs.

“The investment in the Heartland Hydrogen Hub will benefit Minnesota farmers,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “The hydrogen hub will help kickstart the production of green fertilizer in our region, which is a critical strategy for decarbonizing the agricultural supply chain. The cooperative model that is included with this project is another exciting example of how a transition to a low-carbon economy can lead to rural rejuvenation.”

The hub will leverage energy resources in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to help decarbonize the agricultural sector’s production of fertilizer, decrease the regional cost of clean hydrogen, and advance the use of clean hydrogen in electric generation and for cold climate space heating.

Heartland Hydrogen Hub aims to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 220,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road, according to an Xcel Energy statement.

The hub anticipates creating upwards of 3,880 direct jobs–3,067 in construction jobs and 703 permanent jobs, according to a DOE statement. It also plans to offer unique opportunities of equity ownership to tribal communities through an equity partnership and to local farmers and farmer co-ops through a private sector partnership that will allow local farmers to receive more competitive pricing for clean fertilizer.

The DOE is funding seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs across the nation and investing $7 billion to accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen, which is an energy product that can be produced with zero or near-zero carbon emissions. The money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

About Minnesota Farmers Union

Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone. Learn more and join at https://mfu.org/, and follow MFU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (https://mfu.org/).