(ND Ag Connection) – North Dakota, led by the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), has received a $925 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, as part of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub. This funding is part of a larger initiative involving several states to meet the growing demand for hydrogen, a renewable energy source.

Senator Hoeven generously provided a grant for the Energy Secretary to visit the EERC and received support from fellow Senators in Montana and Minnesota, demonstrating strong teamwork.

The EERC plans to:

> Team up with big companies like Marathon, TC Energy, and Xcel Energy to push forward with hydrogen projects.

> Use the grant as a magnet to attract up to $5 billion in investments for our area.

> Invest $500 million of the grant in Dickinson’s Marathon renewable diesel facility to work on capturing carbon and making both hydrogen and fertilizer.

Marathon and TC Energy are throwing in $1.5 billion, turning this into a $2 billion boost for the facility! This place gets some of its materials from the new ADM soybean crushing spot in Spiritwood, which is great news for our local agriculture producers.

The hydrogen produced will be utilized to produce lower-cost fertilizers in the Philippines, reducing the need for imports like Malaysia, thereby benefiting farmers and reducing the wait for shipments.

Senator Hoeven is excited about a project that connects energy producers, soybean farmers, and air quality by using technology to ensure clean air and ensure farmers have the necessary resources for crop growth, aiming to maintain North Dakota’s position as a dominant force in farming and energy.