Michigan has announced a $7.5 million investment to investigate geologic hydrogen as a potential clean energy resource within the state. Hydrogen combustion produces only water as a byproduct, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kevin Mehren, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office, described geologic hydrogen as a major decarbonization tool with potential applications across multiple sectors of the economy.
The research initiative follows a 2025 study by the U.S. Geological Survey that identified regions across the United States with significant potential for buried hydrogen reserves, with Michigan ranking among the more promising areas. Governor Gretchen Whitmer directed state resources toward expanded research on the topic in January, leading to the current funding announcement. Other states including Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa have already begun drilling operations to explore geologic hydrogen resources.
Michigan’s geology presents particular advantages for this research. The state sits atop the Midcontinent Rift, a geographic feature created when the North American continent began splitting more than 1 billion years ago. This geologic formation, known as the Michigan Basin, contains older rock formations near its edges—including areas around Detroit and Traverse City—where hydrogen may have formed naturally.
Existing drilling infrastructure represents an additional asset for the research effort. Northern Michigan contains numerous oil and natural gas wells and some of the state’s most productive gas fields. Brian Ellis, an associate professor at the University of Michigan and co-director of MI Hydrogen, noted that researchers can potentially reexamine data from previous drilling operations to identify hydrogen deposits that were not previously a focus of exploration.
State officials hope the initial funding will help attract additional federal support. The U.S. Department of Energy allocated approximately $20 million in 2024 for geologic hydrogen projects through its Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy program. Mehren suggested that geologic hydrogen development could appeal across political lines, combining domestic energy production with zero-emission energy generation and economic development potential.
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