The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bakken Energy and its partner Mitsubishi Power Americas Inc., establishing the basis for MHA Nation to become the natural gas supplier for the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub.
Mark N. Fox, Chairman of the MHA Nation, said, “The MHA Nation is pleased to become a part of this world-class clean hydrogen research.” “Natural gas from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation will provide the clean energy we need to rescue the world, as well as the infrastructure needed to prevent excessive natural gas flaring on our grounds, enhancing the quality of life for our members.”
“I believe it is feasible to create the clean energy our country requires while still doing good in local communities,” said Jim Sinegal, co-founder of Costco, retiring CEO, and Bakken Energy big shareholder. “Our Great Plains Hydrogen Hub is able to achieve precisely that because to our partnership with the MHA Nation.”
“Bakken Energy’s Great Plains Hydrogen Hub is a daring initiative,” stated Steven Lebow, Chairman and Founder of Bakken Energy. “We embrace it and welcome the MHA Nation as a partner in this project with open arms.” “For us, the Hub is the start of creating the next great clean energy firm, focused on making clean, inexpensive hydrogen available to promote hydrogen adoption and decarbonization.”
The Great Plains Hydrogen Hub is a redevelopment of Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant, which was built in 1984. It will serve the upper Midwest and is expected to be commercially operational in early 2027, when it will be one of the largest clean hydrogen production facilities in the US, with a gross production capacity of 348,000 metric tons/year of clean hydrogen and the lowest cost of production in the country. The Great Plains Hydrogen Hub will serve as a regional hub for clean hydrogen production, delivery, and storage in the upper Midwest for transportation, agricultural, and other decarbonization requirements. The hydrogen will be 96 percent carbon-free thanks to cutting-edge auto thermal reforming, carbon capture, and sequestration. This move to clean hydrogen generation is expected to reduce carbon emissions by six million metric tons per year, or the equivalent of one million automobiles. The project’s capital cost is anticipated to reach $2 billion.
“Our Great Plains Hydrogen Hub meets the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen Shot targets — large-scale clean hydrogen production for $1/kg by 2030 – years ahead of schedule,” stated Mike Hopkins, CEO of Bakken Energy. “The redevelopment provides us with an incomparable cost advantage, allowing us to create infrastructure to support increased hydrogen production, including hydrogen from renewables, on our approach to become the country’s largest and lowest-cost producer of clean hydrogen.”
“Unprecedented collaboration is required for the energy transition. We will be able to build up the hydrogen infrastructure in the Midwest more cost-effectively and assist hasten the energy transition by partnering with the MHA Nation. Bill Newsom, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc., stated, “The North Dakota hydrogen hub is vital to attaining net-zero.” “With our allies, we are bringing about a Power Shift.”
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum stated, “The State of North Dakota looks forward to becoming the home of the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub, which will be a vital contribution to attaining our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and a key player in the burgeoning hydrogen economy.” “This collaboration between MHA Nation and Bakken Energy will add value to North Dakota’s vast natural gas resources while also moving us closer to our common objective of minimizing flaring,” said MHA Nation’s CEO. As part of our all-of-the-above energy policy and efforts to generate employment, diversify our economy, and strengthen U.S. energy security, we support hydrogen development.”
