Hydrogen hub building a more economically and environmentally sustainable economy for Indiana
Northern Indiana business leaders have been working hard over the past several years to attract new, 21st century businesses and industries to our region in order to create local jobs and strengthen local economies — and with great success. Our high-quality workforce, proximity to Chicago, business-friendly tax environment, and robust existing infrastructure have all helped make this vision of economic and environmental revitalization a reality.
From the Quantum Corridor that spreads across northern Indiana under the Indiana Toll Road to the Digital Crossroad data center in Hammond, Indiana, investments in building out our technology and data infrastructure are helping create new economic opportunities. Moreover, these investments are helping transform our region from being known as a leading polluter to one that is on the cutting edge of technology, successfully advancing both environmental and economic sustainability goals.
The recent announcement that the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) was awarded a portion of the $7 billion allocated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to accelerate the production and use of clean hydrogen is just the latest example of this positive new trend. Thanks to the focused leadership of Governor Eric Holcomb, Senator Todd Young, and Representative Frank Mrvan, the MachH2 hub was just one of seven clean hydrogen hubs across the country to receive IIJA funding.
In total, the regional MachH2 hydrogen hub — which includes Indiana as well as Illinois and Michigan — will receive $1 billion worth of investments to bring the groundbreaking clean energy project to life. According to projections by the U.S. Department of Energy, it will create 13,600 direct jobs for our states while driving private-sector investments in Indiana communities.
MachH2 will help the United States continue to increase production of, and discover new applications for, clean hydrogen as a fuel source, ensuring Northern Indiana and our entire region continue to lead on carbon reduction and clean energy. Altogether, the project comprises over 70 private and public businesses, economic development groups, and educational institutions across our region, including Purdue University Northwest, which will be involved in research and workforce development efforts that will create exciting new industry partnership opportunities for students and faculty alike.
Enormous changes have begun over the years, particularly in the past decade or so. Looking back on the days when Hammond was home to one of the dirtiest power plants in the nation, I’m immensely proud on the progress we have made and the role that Digital Crossroad has played in helping transform the old State Line Power Station into a 21st century green data center.
Ultimately, the soon-to-be MachH2 clean hydrogen hub will enable Northwest Indiana to continue building on the progress and momentum of the past few years, both to grow a stronger economy as well as to reduce emissions and improve the quality of life in our communities. This project should supercharge the revitalizing of the region and attract new businesses, grow our clean energy capabilities, and create high-paying jobs for Hoosiers — and I’m thankful to our leaders from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C. for helping secure this much-needed, economy-growing project.