MHA Nation
In February 2022, Bakken Energy and Mitsubishi signed a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) with the MHA Nation laying the groundwork for MHA Nation to become the natural gas supplier for the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub project.
The MHA Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, is a federally recognized Native American tribe located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (“FBIR”) in central North Dakota. The Reservation has borders within six North Dakota counties and surrounds the Lake Sakakawea portion of the Missouri River. It consists of approximately 1 million acres. The MHA Nation is engaged in the responsible development of the vast oil and gas resources on the Reservation and FBIR production accounts for about 20 percent of total oil and natural gas production in North Dakota. There are currently over 16,900 enrolled members of the MHA Nation with nearly 40 percent of those members residing on the Reservation. The MHA Nation employs close to 1500 individuals who assist in providing tribal services and administering various federal and non-federal programs. The mission of the MHA Nation is to provide the Tribes and their people with maximum quality services by being responsible, accountable, respectful, caring, and incorporating the traditional values of their elders and ancestors. You can view more information on the MHA Nation Website: www.mhanation.com.
The location of the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub at Beulah, ND is approximately 100 miles from the New Town, ND Tribal Headquarters of the MHA Nation which is in the northwest corner of the FBIR. Beulah is also approximately 40 miles from the highly productive southern portions of the FBIR. Importantly, the project includes direct connection with the natural gas gathering and processing assets that currently serve the FBIR and could be expanded for the increased demand represented by the Hub in the future. Additionally, new-build natural gas gathering and processing capacity that will enhance FBIR production and further reduce flaring is being planned.
The natural gas reserves of North Dakota are approximately 54 trillion cubic feet or a 50-year supply at current production rates. The Bakken Field has been plagued historically, by extraordinary levels of natural gas flaring. There is the opportunity, by partnering with MHA Nation to secure low-cost reliable gas supply for the Hub while dramatically reducing flaring risks in the future and its associated air quality and other harms.
Cummins ®
Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. Cummins’ products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, after treatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products
Cummins is advancing zero carbon technology by investing across a range of technologies to support hydrogen-based trans-portation including hydrogen engines, fuel cells, electrolyzers and storage tanks. Bakken Energy and Cummins, through the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub partnership, will support the decarbonisation of long-haul trucking by connecting large-scale clean hydrogen supply and refueling infrastructure with the deployment of hydrogen-powered fleets utilizing either Cummins fuel cell or engine power providing fleet owners with the tools needed to realize their zero emissions goals.
Pilot Company
Pilot Company is one of the leading suppliers of fuel and the largest operator of travel centers in North America with more than 800 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces serving over 1.3 million guests a day. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Company is currently ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies and supplies more than 14 billion gallons of fuel per year to the market with the nation’s fourth-largest tanker fleet. Through the Great Plains Hydrogen Hub partnership, Pilot Company and Bakken Energy will contribute to the decarbonisation of long-haul trucking by evaluating a large-scale clean hydrogen fuel supply project to provide fleet owners with the supply chain backbone and refueling infrastructure needed to support a seamless transition to zero emissions.