Site work and new construction of a manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois. Design plans call for the construction of a manufacturing facility.

This project is part of $7 billion federal initiative to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation and accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen. A hydrogen hub is a network of producers, users, distributors and stakeholders within the hydrogen ecosystem. As of July 28, 2025, this project is under negotiation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). MachH2 officially entered Phase 1 after signing a cooperative agreement with the DOE on November 20, 2024. The hub consists of eight projects led by nine subrecipients, each responsible for selecting their own contractors and engineers: The subrecipients are: Air Liquide: Project Focus: Hydrogen production, liquefaction, distribution, and storage. Air Liquide brings over 60 years of expertise across the hydrogen value chain. Contractors: Not publicly disclosed yet. Likely to use internal teams and long-standing industrial partners. BP: Project Focus: A massive hydrogen production facility at the Whiting Refinery in Indiana. Expected to be the largest private-sector investment in Indiana history, with up to $8 billion in private funding. Contractors: Will employ 16,000 construction workers. Specific firms not named, but likely to include union labor and major industrial contractors. Constellation Energy: Project Focus: Building the world’s largest nuclear-powered hydrogen facility at the LaSalle Clean Energy Center in Illinois. Estimated to produce 33,450 tons/year of clean hydrogen. Contractors: Not yet disclosed. Project contingent on federal tax credit guidance under the Inflation Reduction Act. GTI Energy: Project Focus: Leading the Community Benefits Plan (CBP) and hydrogen safety training. Also involved in the SWITCH project for industrial and transportation hydrogen use. Contractors: GTI Energy is more of a technical and strategic partner than a construction lead. Invenergy: Project Focus: Details are limited but likely focused on renewable energy-powered hydrogen production given Invenergy’s portfolio. Contractors: Not yet disclosed. Mass Transportation Authority – Flint: Project Focus: Expansion of hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet and fueling infrastructure. Received $11 million in funding. Contractors: Local contractors likely involved in upgrading the Grand Blanc Township fueling station. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy: Project Focus: Supporting hydrogen infrastructure and environmental oversight. Involved in projects like the “Truck Stop of the Future” in Detroit and hydrogen production in Ypsilanti. Contractors: Likely to work with state-approved engineering and environmental firms. Nicor Energy Ventures Company (NEV), an affiliate of Nicor Gas: Project Focus: Hydrogen distribution and blending into natural gas infrastructure. Exploring hydrogen hubs across its service territory. Contractors: Southern Company Gas (parent company) is involved in HyBlend, a national R&D initiative. Engineering partners may include national labs and infrastructure specialists. Midwest Hydrogen Corridor Coalition: The MHCC was originally a separate Indiana-led consortium focused on hydrogen infrastructure and mobility. In February 2023, MHCC officially merged with MachH2 to form a single regional coalition *For more information on how to connect with the individual sub-recipient, please visit: https://mach-2.com/mach2-membership Timeline: Currently in Phase 1: Project Planning and Design: Detailed engineering and feasibility studies for each subrecipient’s hydrogen project. Site selection, permitting, and environmental assessments. Community and Labor Engagement: Development of a Community Benefits Plan (CBP) led by GTI Energy. Outreach to disadvantaged communities and labor organizations. Workforce development and training initiatives. Governance and Coordination: Establishment of a hub-wide governance structure to manage integration across subrecipients. Coordination of hydrogen production, distribution, and end-use strategies. Compliance and Risk Management: Development of cybersecurity plans and lifecycle carbon intensity analysis. Risk assessments and workforce planning as recommended by the DOE Inspector General. Tax Credit and Policy Alignment: Evaluation of project eligibility for the Section 45V hydrogen production tax credit. Monitoring guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department. Phase 2: launch between November 2025 and May 2026, depending on project readiness and DOE approvals. Expected to last 2-3 years. Phase 2 will involve: Construction and Deployment of hydrogen production, distribution, and end-use infrastructure. Implementation of Community Benefits Plans, including workforce development and equity initiatives. Operational Readiness: Finalizing safety protocols, environmental compliance, and integration across subrecipient projects. Scaling Up: Moving toward the goal of producing 1,000+ metric tons/day of clean hydrogen. Phase 3: (expected 2028-2030) will Install, Integrate and Construct. 3-4 years. Phase 4: (expected 2030 onward) Ramp-up & Operate. 2-4 years More project information at https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Midwest%20Phase%201%20Award%20Briefing_FINAL.pdf.