Tom DeVilbiss, Westhope

North Dakota has consistently led in energy development, from coal to oil and natural gas and now, even wind energy. In January 2025, the Heartland Hydrogen Hub (HH2H) initiative, of which North Dakota is a part, entered Phase 1 the concept development stage. This phase, which encompasses preliminary planning and site selection activities, is anticipated to last 24 months.

Now, enter President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. It includes a provision that eliminates specific tax provisions for hydrogen projects that do not begin construction before Dec. 31, 2027, a deadline that will be difficult to meet.

However, many members of Congress, some of whom have already voted for the bill, publicly advocate for extending that deadline. Extension or removal of that provision is only logical if, indeed, we are to pursue President Trump’s all-of-the-above energy approach and successfully compete internationally. China, Saudi Arabia, and other nations are making massive investments in the hydrogen sector. However, the HH2H could play a significant role in the U.S. winning this race against our rivals.

Why hasn’t the North Dakota delegation, including Sen. Cramer, Sen. Hoeven, and Rep. Fedorchak, used their influence to get this deadline pushed back, as over 250 American companies have requested? North Dakota’s influence on national legislation will never get any stronger.