BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies, with a rail network of 32,500 route miles in 28 states and three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of the products and materials that help feed, clothe, supply and power communities throughout America and the world.
In collaboration with the States of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Montana, Bakken Energy is working on the design of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, a regional clean hydrogen hub competing to obtain federal funding through the Department of Energy’s US$7bn Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program announced on September 22, 2022, as part of the larger US$8bn hydrogen hub program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The foundation of the industry-led hub is Bakken Energy’s large scale affordable clean hydrogen production using natural gas that would otherwise be flared, including carbon capture and sequestration.
“It is a privilege to be partnered with BNSF,” said Bakken Energy founder and chairman, Steve Lebow. “Railways could play a critical role in distributing our clean hydrogen production and could also be consumers as trains transition from diesel. BNSF is the ideal partner to work out the role of railways in our Heartland Hydrogen Hub.”
“We see our work with Bakken Energy and the Heartland Hydrogen Hub as part of our commitment to a more sustainable energy and transportation system, including exploring the role railways can play in a hydrogen economy,” added John Lovenburg, VP of environment and sustainability at BNSF.