The governors of Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri are working together to get up to $1 billion in federal financing to create a regional hub for the generation of clean hydrogen.
The establishment of up to 10 large-scale regional clean hydrogen hubs with networks of hydrogen producers and customers is funded with $7 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. According to the US Department of Energy, the Midwest coalition is vying for one of the awards, which may be worth up to $1 billion.
Energy-intensive sectors including manufacturing and transportation are anticipated to employ hydrogen to cut their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, President Joseph Biden wants to decrease American greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
According to a study done by Ideal Energy, a solar and energy storage firm based in Fairfield, renewable hydrogen is produced by employing an electrolyzer powered by wind, solar, or any renewable energy to split water molecules, H2O, into hydrogen and oxygen. The study was supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
While most existing hydrogen generation uses the high-carbon fossil fuels methane or coal, the process produces “no pollutants or greenhouse emissions,” the report claims.
According to the Ideal Energy research, with its extensive renewable energy infrastructure, current fertiliser production facilities, and demand for hydrogen products, Iowa is “very well-positioned to become a centre of renewable hydrogen production and consumption.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iowa gets the most energy from wind farms—about 58%—of any state in the union. It is a leading agricultural state, as are its grant partners. Apart from California, Iowa is the state with the second-best ag economy in the country. Nebraska is third while Missouri is ranked 12th.
The partnership, according to the governors, aims to promote economic growth, take into account the most recent research and scientific findings, protect frontline and underserved communities, offer avenues for workforce development and training, address pipeline safety, assess and address potential water use impacts of hydrogen production, and assess impacts of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and use on air quality, among other objectives.
