WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Representative Frank Mrvan (IN-01) sent a bipartisan letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright urging the Trump administration to prioritize Northwest Indiana as a regional Hydrogen Hub. They highlighted the region’s unmatched manufacturing strength, existing energy infrastructure, and readiness to lead in blue hydrogen production using natural gas and carbon capture. The lawmakers argued that investing in Indiana’s hydrogen project would support President Trump’s push for American energy dominance, create jobs, lower costs, and strengthen the U.S. industrial base for decades to come.
In part, the letter reads:
“Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-America decision that plays to our state’s strengths. Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast. This project is a key step in strengthening America’s energy dominance, ensuring we remain the world leader in energy production while creating jobs and boosting economic growth. We respectfully ask that the Administration make the Hydrogen Hub project in Indiana a top priority.”
Click here to see the full letter or see text below:
Dear Secretary Wright,
We write today to express our strong support for the ongoing development of blue hydrogen energy in Northwest Indiana’s industrial corridor.
This region is home to a dense manufacturing hub, containing the largest inland oil refinery and two of the largest integrated steel production facilities in our nation. For over a century, major industry titans have made decisions to invest and locate along Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline. As a result, Hoosiers in the Northwest region and across the state have been world leaders in manufacturing.
Keeping in line with President’s Trump’s efforts to bolster American energy, this Hydrogen Hub presents a significant opportunity to expand energy production. In particular, the Whiting Refinery in Northwest Indiana is an ideal location for blue hydrogen production, which is produced from clean and reliable natural gas using carbon capture technology. Blue hydrogen offers a quick, cost-effective solution by utilizing existing infrastructure, and will provide a scalable energy source capable of meeting immediate energy demands. Investing in blue hydrogen production at this facility will bolster existing supply chains and will best position the United States for energy dominance.
Further, we believe the success of the hydrogen energy project will support the Administration’s stated goal to reshore our critical industries and strengthen our manufacturing base. With our region’s established downstream infrastructure, midstream pipeline capacity and manufacturing prowess, the continued support for this project will ensure that our energy and steel industries remain well positioned for success into the next century.
Notably, the Whiting Refinery in Northwest Indiana can process up to 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily and would be an ideal site to locate a regional Hydrogen Hub. Continuing this project means investing in Hoosiers and a state that delivers. Indiana is ready to lead the way in blue hydrogen innovation, strengthening American manufacturing, boosting our domestic energy supply and lowering costs by maximizing the potential of our abundant and reliable fossil fuel resources.
Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-America decision that plays to our state’s strengths. Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast. This project is a key step in strengthening America’s energy dominance, ensuring we remain the world leader in energy production while creating jobs and boosting economic growth. We respectfully ask that the Administration make the Hydrogen Hub project in Indiana a top priority.
Thank you for your consideration.